LATEST NEWSA Nottinghamshire Pitman's Story
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Under the guidance of David Asheby, the Tai Chi instructor, the Lapwing ladies swooped and gracefully performed the Tai Chi movements, especially wonderful when we all seemed in unison and harmony.
David talked about the origins of Tai Chi which seemed to be formed from legends rather than a definitive source, however this adds to the magic of its existence. Tai Chi is a 'movement and exercise system' which can be followed at one's own pace. It does have elements of martial arts but that is not its main function. It's based on challenges which involve physical, mental and relaxing benefits. We got a bit worried when the sword was produced and David started to make very sweeping movements with it - but he was on the stage and the ladies were a distance away. Altogether a very informative and enjoyable evening. |
The Etiquette of Afternoon Tea...
Tuesday 11th January
Baroness Bolsover entertained us again this morning, this time in person, with fascinating facts about Victorian afternoon tea etiquette.
Who knew how important it was to have the correct posture at the table, or how to hold cups daintily, along with the importance of napkin etiquette. We also learnt how to stir tea to help the chards of chiselled sugar lumps get dissolved and how to daintily sip (no slurping) our tea.
Then it was onto the food… finger sandwiches, without crusts, Victoria cake, Garibaldi biscuits, scones and Battenburg cake... were some of the treats to accompany a typical Victorian afternoon tea, all in the tiniest of morsels.
Who knew how important it was to have the correct posture at the table, or how to hold cups daintily, along with the importance of napkin etiquette. We also learnt how to stir tea to help the chards of chiselled sugar lumps get dissolved and how to daintily sip (no slurping) our tea.
Then it was onto the food… finger sandwiches, without crusts, Victoria cake, Garibaldi biscuits, scones and Battenburg cake... were some of the treats to accompany a typical Victorian afternoon tea, all in the tiniest of morsels.
The Baroness's outfit was stunning, she wore a peplum dress with leg of mutton style sleeves, a tightly corseted waist along with a flowerpot hat.
Thank you Baroness Bolsover, for an enlightening and amusing morning and your special blend of tea is just lovely.
Thank you Baroness Bolsover, for an enlightening and amusing morning and your special blend of tea is just lovely.
Deck the Halls...
Tuesday 14th December
We had a very creative morning today making table decorations, demonstrated by our own Janice McEwen who showed us three fabulous arrangements.
We were then let loose....
We were then let loose....
>What a creative lot, There were some amazing arrangements. We also enjoyed home-made mince pies thanks to Sue Arnold. Merry Christmas everyone.
'Oh! what a night...
... what ladies, what a night'. The Frankie Valli song was so appropriate.
Entertained by 'Rocks and Frocks', the Village Hall swayed to their rhythms and songs. Their popular renditions got everyone (nearly) up on their feet and dancing - Jiving, Twisting, and whatever the dance is called where you step from one foot to another!
'Picnics' were laid out on tables and the bar was open, what else do you need for a great party night?
And then there was Jean - stole the show with her stage performance (still figuring out how to upload video!).
Entertained by 'Rocks and Frocks', the Village Hall swayed to their rhythms and songs. Their popular renditions got everyone (nearly) up on their feet and dancing - Jiving, Twisting, and whatever the dance is called where you step from one foot to another!
'Picnics' were laid out on tables and the bar was open, what else do you need for a great party night?
And then there was Jean - stole the show with her stage performance (still figuring out how to upload video!).
November Craft Fair
Saturday 13th November
WOW!!! What a great turnout for our Craft Fair. It brought in a good profit and a £360 donation was made to the Nottingham Women's Refuge. It also means that we are able to continue to provide good quality activities for our members.
Christmas is Coming
Tuesday 9th November
A tasty meeting this morning, we sampled mince pies, panettone, shortbread and iced Christmas cake, with some interesting results. It was great to have time for a chat as well.
As for the results, there were some surprises, showing that the most expensive items are not always the most popular. Aldi may be our new meeting place!
Mince pies: Waitrose made with cognac and all butter proved most popular, although more than three times the price of others. Mr Kipling came last.
Panettone: not a favourite with our members and the most expensive. The triple chocolate from M&S was a poor second to Aldi’s, even though it was £10 compared to £3.69.
Shortbread: not a lot of difference in price between all three, but again Aldi came out top.
Iced Christmas cake: Tesco came top in this with M&S and Aldi getting the same number of votes.
Mince pies: Waitrose made with cognac and all butter proved most popular, although more than three times the price of others. Mr Kipling came last.
Panettone: not a favourite with our members and the most expensive. The triple chocolate from M&S was a poor second to Aldi’s, even though it was £10 compared to £3.69.
Shortbread: not a lot of difference in price between all three, but again Aldi came out top.
Iced Christmas cake: Tesco came top in this with M&S and Aldi getting the same number of votes.
Cocktail Shaker Boys - Part 2
Thursday 28th October
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The return of the Cocktail Shaker Boys, Andrew and Steve,(in person this time), was a popular event last Thursday evening.
A well - attended session gave everyone who had not heard the two on Zoom, a chance to listen to the story of the origins of cocktails, the spirits used, the mixes and mixers and to taste a couple of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. If you want to remind yourself of the history please scroll down to the article written after their Zoom appearance. The tasting was a success - some people enjoying the tasters in larger glasses! The pink, Cosmopolitan, and green, Grasshopper, contrasted well on display. The two Mocktails added stronger colours - Merry Berry Cherry and China Blue - all went down well in the tasting session. The tasters came in little dinky bottles with straws and as you can see by the bottles in the last picture they were all emptied! The boys provided recipe cards should anyone want to try to make the tasters at home. |
The Hon. Mrs Victor Bruce
Tuesday 12th October 2021
You have probably never heard of her....but what a fascinating lady she is. Her tales were told to us by Paula Cornwell, in character throughout.
Did you know she flew around the world, covering some 19,000 miles, landing in 23 countries and 3 continents. Predominantly navigating via the 3 R's - Roads, Rail and Rivers with maps from the AA. She only learnt to fly a couple of months before she left for her adventure!
She achieved a numer of firsts:
First women to fly to Indochina.
First women to fly across the Yellow Sea.
First women to fly from England to Japan.
And yet, you have probably never heard of her.....
The tales of her adventures were fascinating from a crash landing in the desert, to landing on the shores of the Mekong river. But not only did she achieve success in flying, she was also a great speedster in the Motor Racing and Speed Boating world and at the age of 78 drove a Ford Capri Ghia at 110mph! She was also a very savvy business woman. A read of her Wikipedia page will give you more insight into her amazing achievements.
Did you know she flew around the world, covering some 19,000 miles, landing in 23 countries and 3 continents. Predominantly navigating via the 3 R's - Roads, Rail and Rivers with maps from the AA. She only learnt to fly a couple of months before she left for her adventure!
She achieved a numer of firsts:
First women to fly to Indochina.
First women to fly across the Yellow Sea.
First women to fly from England to Japan.
And yet, you have probably never heard of her.....
The tales of her adventures were fascinating from a crash landing in the desert, to landing on the shores of the Mekong river. But not only did she achieve success in flying, she was also a great speedster in the Motor Racing and Speed Boating world and at the age of 78 drove a Ford Capri Ghia at 110mph! She was also a very savvy business woman. A read of her Wikipedia page will give you more insight into her amazing achievements.
Wardrobe Fairy to the Rescue..
Thursday 23rd September 2021
,52 ladies came together at the Village Hall for our first Thursday meeting for what seems a very long time!
We enjoyed a talk from our very own Wardrobe Fairy, Helen Keightley, who gave us lots of tips on how to sort out our wardrobes and drawers and how to dress with confidence.
Helen gave advice such as:
- using cotton wool pads on the clip hangers to protect leather items
- never use dry cleaners wire coat hangers
- folding your clothes and stacking them side on, so you can see all the colours
- hang your jewellery on the side of your wardrobe so you can see it
- wear a long necklace to make you look taller/slimmer
- detract from your upper arm with a statement bracelet
- make your legs look longer with shoes the same colour as your trousers
- if you don't love an item of clothing and you have tried it with other combinations three times then get rid of it - donate it to charity
- don't be tempted with a bargain, it you aren't prepared to pay the full price for something then you probably won't love it enough to warrant its purchase
- tidy those underwear and sock drawers, get rid of the old stuff and keep only the items that fit you properly, fold them and put them into separate storage containers within the drawer
- remember big knickers are your friend - no VPL
We were also treated to a shopping experience, as Helen brought along some clothing items, bags and other accessories from her online shop, which we all enjoyed looking through, as can be seen by the photographs, (while we tried to maintain social distancing). Helen runs an online shop and her website can be found here www.wardrobefairynottingham.com/, she is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/wardrobefairynottm.
We enjoyed a talk from our very own Wardrobe Fairy, Helen Keightley, who gave us lots of tips on how to sort out our wardrobes and drawers and how to dress with confidence.
Helen gave advice such as:
- using cotton wool pads on the clip hangers to protect leather items
- never use dry cleaners wire coat hangers
- folding your clothes and stacking them side on, so you can see all the colours
- hang your jewellery on the side of your wardrobe so you can see it
- wear a long necklace to make you look taller/slimmer
- detract from your upper arm with a statement bracelet
- make your legs look longer with shoes the same colour as your trousers
- if you don't love an item of clothing and you have tried it with other combinations three times then get rid of it - donate it to charity
- don't be tempted with a bargain, it you aren't prepared to pay the full price for something then you probably won't love it enough to warrant its purchase
- tidy those underwear and sock drawers, get rid of the old stuff and keep only the items that fit you properly, fold them and put them into separate storage containers within the drawer
- remember big knickers are your friend - no VPL
We were also treated to a shopping experience, as Helen brought along some clothing items, bags and other accessories from her online shop, which we all enjoyed looking through, as can be seen by the photographs, (while we tried to maintain social distancing). Helen runs an online shop and her website can be found here www.wardrobefairynottingham.com/, she is also on Facebook www.facebook.com/wardrobefairynottm.
Real Life at last...
Tuesday 14th September 2021
What a lovely morning we had at our first real meeting for eighteen months, even if it was not what we expected!!! 37 members came along and it was great to hear the buzz of chatter and laughter as everyone was catching up. Our speaker was to be someone from the police to talk about scams and fraud but, unfortunately, did not turn up for the meeting (we found out later that he apparently had to staff a scene somewhere).
Everyone was welcomed, including one member who joined in 2020 but had not been able to attend any meetings.
The committee members talked about the different groups and events starting up again, with lots of things to join in and look forward to. Following a break for a drink and more chatter, members shared some of their experiences of possible scams and everyone discussed what to do or not to do.
There were lots of milk bottle tops, blister packs, stamps, tombola prizes and crisp packets brought along for our collections as well as donations for the food bank.
The morning ended with a game of "Sit Down If..." won by Sharon Coleman, and Jean Fisher asked for a round of applause for our wonderful committee for all they have done over the past 18 months.
Everyone was welcomed, including one member who joined in 2020 but had not been able to attend any meetings.
The committee members talked about the different groups and events starting up again, with lots of things to join in and look forward to. Following a break for a drink and more chatter, members shared some of their experiences of possible scams and everyone discussed what to do or not to do.
There were lots of milk bottle tops, blister packs, stamps, tombola prizes and crisp packets brought along for our collections as well as donations for the food bank.
The morning ended with a game of "Sit Down If..." won by Sharon Coleman, and Jean Fisher asked for a round of applause for our wonderful committee for all they have done over the past 18 months.
Our Annual Picnic
4th of August 2021
On a beautiful August evening a whole crowd of us enjoyed the wonderful setting of Beauvale Priory and the fun and games of our annual picnic. More photos can be seen on our private Facebook page and here in the Gallery (Photos 2021)
The Silver Darlings
22nd June via zoom
You couldn't fail to enjoy yourself as we were entertained by The Silver Darlings, one of the few Ladies Sea Shanty groups from Southend.
Not only did we learn the history of Sea Shanties - it is all about the work and singing in rhythm to get the hard tasks done, such as pulling up sails or pulling up the anchor. If you are singing in unison you are likely to be pulling in unison.
Not only did we learn the history of Sea Shanties - it is all about the work and singing in rhythm to get the hard tasks done, such as pulling up sails or pulling up the anchor. If you are singing in unison you are likely to be pulling in unison.
So we were entertained with songs such as:
You could easily imagine how these shanties would have been used with the rhythm of the ship and help to make lighter work of hard tasks, as well being a form of story telling and entertainment to keep up morale.
It was a fun evening and singing is great for lifting the spirits.
- The Wellerman (he brings us sugar, tea and rum) - a story about a battle with a whale!
- Randy Dandy Oh!
- A Drop of Nelson's Blood (apparently, although Nelson died at sea, his body was preserved in a barrel of Brandy, which was the sailors' rations. They helped themselves to a drop or two, so by the time they got back to shore the barrel was empty!)
You could easily imagine how these shanties would have been used with the rhythm of the ship and help to make lighter work of hard tasks, as well being a form of story telling and entertainment to keep up morale.
It was a fun evening and singing is great for lifting the spirits.
Chatsworth Visit
15th July 2021
What a fabulous day out we had at Chatsworth There was time to explore the beautiful gardens as well as enjoying a tour of the house. The weather joined in - lovely and sunny.
More pictures can be found here: Photos 2021
More pictures can be found here: Photos 2021
AGM Zoom meeting with fun and games
1st July 2021
WAt the start of the meeting President Jo Parris talked through the issues Lapwings continue to have because of Covis-19. Although The President's, Secretary's and Treasurer's reports had already been published via email, President Jo and Janet read theirs out: all the reports were then proposed and seconded.
Jo also mentioned that all those serving on the Committee were to stand for another year.
Jo thanked and spoke of the work done by the Committee throughout the pandemic by keeping everyone informed and with the 'surprise' gifts which were sent to all members. It is hoped that things will gradually be coming back to normal from July 19th, although some groups were already up and running.
The subs for the year would be kept at £44, but payment would not be required until April 2022.
The fun and games began with a very 'hard' and varied quiz, which left many baffled as to the answers!
This was followed by a Scavenger Hunt - Santa's hat, egg, bell, beak, pre-decimal coin - were just some of the items to be collected. Collecting items for all the letters of the word 'Lapwings' caused much excitement, with some wonderful interpretations!
And then came the Scavenger Hunt cryptic clues - 'What's full of holes but holds water?' - 'What starts with an 'e' and ends with an 'e' and usually contains one letter?' Err...
Just before the end of the Zoom meeting Janet picked out the 5 members who were to receive a bursary of £50 towards a 'workshop' (educational). These were - Donna England, Linda Jackson, Jo Parris, Katherine Fern and Sandra Torr. Congratulations ladies!
Jo also mentioned that all those serving on the Committee were to stand for another year.
Jo thanked and spoke of the work done by the Committee throughout the pandemic by keeping everyone informed and with the 'surprise' gifts which were sent to all members. It is hoped that things will gradually be coming back to normal from July 19th, although some groups were already up and running.
The subs for the year would be kept at £44, but payment would not be required until April 2022.
The fun and games began with a very 'hard' and varied quiz, which left many baffled as to the answers!
This was followed by a Scavenger Hunt - Santa's hat, egg, bell, beak, pre-decimal coin - were just some of the items to be collected. Collecting items for all the letters of the word 'Lapwings' caused much excitement, with some wonderful interpretations!
And then came the Scavenger Hunt cryptic clues - 'What's full of holes but holds water?' - 'What starts with an 'e' and ends with an 'e' and usually contains one letter?' Err...
Just before the end of the Zoom meeting Janet picked out the 5 members who were to receive a bursary of £50 towards a 'workshop' (educational). These were - Donna England, Linda Jackson, Jo Parris, Katherine Fern and Sandra Torr. Congratulations ladies!
AGM reports
via email June 2021
As we are unable to conduct our Annual Meeting in person because of Covid restrictions, we are sending you, via email, all the details for you to read. This includes the President's Address, the Treasurer's Financial Statement and the Secretary's Report.
Below is the Secretary's Report;-
Below is the Secretary's Report;-
What a strange year it has been for us all,
As the pandemic and lockdowns came to call.
No meetings, no groups, no outings allowed,
But Lapwings members survived unbowed.
The committee worked hard throughout the year
To keep in touch and provide some cheer.
To check on our members, we gave them a ring
And emails each week means not missing a thing.
As the pandemic and lockdowns came to call.
No meetings, no groups, no outings allowed,
But Lapwings members survived unbowed.
The committee worked hard throughout the year
To keep in touch and provide some cheer.
To check on our members, we gave them a ring
And emails each week means not missing a thing.
Letters were posted, including some treats:
Hot chocolate, marshmallows, teabags and sweets.
Crafts and quizzes, recipes and seeds too
Hopefully giving everyone something to do.
We’ve tried to embrace the new world of Zoom,
So speakers and Lapwings come into our room –
A chance to learn and have some fun
With a variety of topics and games done.
Hot chocolate, marshmallows, teabags and sweets.
Crafts and quizzes, recipes and seeds too
Hopefully giving everyone something to do.
We’ve tried to embrace the new world of Zoom,
So speakers and Lapwings come into our room –
A chance to learn and have some fun
With a variety of topics and games done.
Organ donation and city buildings toured,
Ovarian Cancer and the Mayflower explored,
Ditching the plastic and boosting our mood –
Just some of the things that we have viewed.
Quirky bird painting and the London Underground,
Playing the spoons and making cocktails all round,
Tea with the Baroness and dance moves to do,
Dairy farming, party night and hand massage too.
Ovarian Cancer and the Mayflower explored,
Ditching the plastic and boosting our mood –
Just some of the things that we have viewed.
Quirky bird painting and the London Underground,
Playing the spoons and making cocktails all round,
Tea with the Baroness and dance moves to do,
Dairy farming, party night and hand massage too.
Our collections continued throughout the year,
Helping the projects we all hold dear.
We made donations of more than 5000 pounds.
To help those less fortunate in our town.
Because of lockdown there was no Christmas tree
But a wreath showed our help for the community.
With crisp packets, ink cartridges and hearts too,
There is always something to save and to do.
Helping the projects we all hold dear.
We made donations of more than 5000 pounds.
To help those less fortunate in our town.
Because of lockdown there was no Christmas tree
But a wreath showed our help for the community.
With crisp packets, ink cartridges and hearts too,
There is always something to save and to do.
Hundreds of food items, twiddlemuffs, milk bottle tops,
Hats and blankets – the knitting and crochet never stops!
Pants to keep African children safe and secure,
Bread bags, pill packs…. We’ll keep collecting for sure.
Our photo challenges proved a little oasis,
Keeping lots of us busy on a daily basis.
Our new facebook groups gave a special place
For walkers, artists and others to have some space.
Hats and blankets – the knitting and crochet never stops!
Pants to keep African children safe and secure,
Bread bags, pill packs…. We’ll keep collecting for sure.
Our photo challenges proved a little oasis,
Keeping lots of us busy on a daily basis.
Our new facebook groups gave a special place
For walkers, artists and others to have some space.
Our green fingered members have pruned and weeded
So a trip to the Garden is definitely needed.
You’ll see the trees and flower collection
In our beautiful Garden of Reflection.
Now that many of us have had jab number two
We can start to meet up, with just a few.
We’ve sat in the garden to enjoy a good chat
And can’t wait to meet others, no doubt about that!
So a trip to the Garden is definitely needed.
You’ll see the trees and flower collection
In our beautiful Garden of Reflection.
Now that many of us have had jab number two
We can start to meet up, with just a few.
We’ve sat in the garden to enjoy a good chat
And can’t wait to meet others, no doubt about that!
For the time being, outside meetings are fine.
Walkers can walk and the lunch group can dine.
The netball ladies are having some fun
Getting back to fitness outside in the sun.
We all hope that the time will soon arrive
When our WI meetings will all go “live”.
No more zooms or screens to keep in touch,
Because we’ve missed our friends and meetings so much.
Walkers can walk and the lunch group can dine.
The netball ladies are having some fun
Getting back to fitness outside in the sun.
We all hope that the time will soon arrive
When our WI meetings will all go “live”.
No more zooms or screens to keep in touch,
Because we’ve missed our friends and meetings so much.
If you have any questions about any of the Annual Meeting information there will be an opportunity to ask on our next Zoom on the 1st of July, or you can email our secretary with any questions you have which can then be addressed.
Watson Fothergill... his mark on Nottingham
10th June via zoom
How on earth do you start to explain a virtual walking tour of just a few of the famous buildings designed by architect Fothergill Watson, (yes he changed his name to Watson Fothergill), without making it into pages and pages...
We were lucky to have Lucy Brouwer to guide us through a few of his more famous Nottingham landmarks and we started with one we can't actually see anymore. The Black Boy Hotel on Long Row, demolished to make way for the 70's brutalist architecture that today houses Primark.
We were lucky to have Lucy Brouwer to guide us through a few of his more famous Nottingham landmarks and we started with one we can't actually see anymore. The Black Boy Hotel on Long Row, demolished to make way for the 70's brutalist architecture that today houses Primark.
We then moved onto the Kings Street and Queens Street area and from the Brian Clough statue looking up at the old Jessops building. We can start to see his "trademark" features, Mapperley red brick, Staffordshire blue brick and a gothic revivalist features. This building housed Jessops department store until it moved to the Victoria Centre. Turn around and the impressive Queens Chambers is there with its even more impressive features. Interestingly the Prudential building at the junction of these two streets is not a Watson Fothergill design.
From here take a stroll up to the Express Chambers on Parliament Street, the top floor of which was added in 1899 to allow for the long printing presses. This building, rather quirkily, has his signature on twice - once as Fothergill Watson and once as Watson Fothergill. The name change was intended to ensure his maternal name of Fothergill continued. Unfortunately, this failed as his two sons died without children.
So onto Lloyds bank on Lower Parliament Street where see some amazing friezes embedded into the façade to depict the industry associated with this building, a grocery company.
Then comes Thurland Street and the Nottingham and Notts Bank, just one of the bank branches he designed for them, with all his usual features, and some more rather unusual ones. These include the friezes depicting the trades of the area (farming, textiles and mining) and the 'Monkeys', both on the outside of the building and inside on the columns in what would have been the banking hall. The Victorians popularly referred to a mortgage as a ‘stone monkey’ and to have 'a stone monkey on one's back' was to have a mortgage to pay!
Finally to George Street and the building designed as his office showcasing every over the top nuance of his style, and possibly even a statue based on himself.... hopefully it won't be too long before we can do a real life tour with Lucy as this proved to be a fascinating evening.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness
27th May via Zoom
We were fortunate enough to have Ruth Grigg join us from Ovacome an Ovarian Cancer Support Charity.
charity.
This is a cancer that is sometimes called the silent killer as there is no screening programme and its symptons are often overlooked or wrongly diagnosed.
Ruth gave us some interesting facts;-
- there are approx. 7400 cases per annum in the Uk
- often diagnosed late and at Stage3c due to the vagueness of the symptoms
- there are some risk factors, tends to be in women over 50 (83%), with no children
- be alert to possible family history
- a GP may only see 1 case every 4 or 5 years
Suzanne then told us her own personal story and took us through her own journey with ovarian cancer.
Ruth then told us about the key symptoms and used the BEAT acronym. It is worth remembering that as women we know our own bodies better than anybody else, so don't be fobbed off if you have a concern and be persistent with your GP.
Overcome as a charity have an excellent website and you can find out more information here; www.ovacome.org.uk/
charity.
This is a cancer that is sometimes called the silent killer as there is no screening programme and its symptons are often overlooked or wrongly diagnosed.
Ruth gave us some interesting facts;-
- there are approx. 7400 cases per annum in the Uk
- often diagnosed late and at Stage3c due to the vagueness of the symptoms
- there are some risk factors, tends to be in women over 50 (83%), with no children
- be alert to possible family history
- a GP may only see 1 case every 4 or 5 years
Suzanne then told us her own personal story and took us through her own journey with ovarian cancer.
Ruth then told us about the key symptoms and used the BEAT acronym. It is worth remembering that as women we know our own bodies better than anybody else, so don't be fobbed off if you have a concern and be persistent with your GP.
Overcome as a charity have an excellent website and you can find out more information here; www.ovacome.org.uk/
Looking Ahead...
As normality gradually returns we can look forward to lots of activities in the near future.
Check these out on Dates for your Diary page.
Check these out on Dates for your Diary page.
Cheers...
6th May via zoom
So the Cocktail Shaker Boys aka Andrew and Steve put us through our paces, not only teaching us the history of cocktails and learning about the ingredients but demonstrating 3 delicious cocktails for us.
Whilst cocktails seem to have been around since the 1700's they really came to be popular in America during the period of Prohibition (Jan 1920 - Dec 1933, imagine 13 years of alcohol being illegal!). This was probably to "hide" the taste of the boot leg spirits.
However, Vodka didn't become a popular ingredient until the 1970's (Del boy has a lot to answer for).
Whilst cocktails seem to have been around since the 1700's they really came to be popular in America during the period of Prohibition (Jan 1920 - Dec 1933, imagine 13 years of alcohol being illegal!). This was probably to "hide" the taste of the boot leg spirits.
However, Vodka didn't become a popular ingredient until the 1970's (Del boy has a lot to answer for).
Our first demo was the OMD, a fruity non alcoholic number:-
Into the cocktail shaker goes:
Ice, 3 x 25ml measures of orange juice, the same of mango juice, 1/2 a measure of coconut syrup (optional) and a 1/4 wedge of lime, squeezed and the remains of the wedge also goes in.
SHAKE!!!!
Pour into a glass, top up with soda water (50 ml ish) stir and garnish as you wish.
Into the cocktail shaker goes:
Ice, 3 x 25ml measures of orange juice, the same of mango juice, 1/2 a measure of coconut syrup (optional) and a 1/4 wedge of lime, squeezed and the remains of the wedge also goes in.
SHAKE!!!!
Pour into a glass, top up with soda water (50 ml ish) stir and garnish as you wish.
Cocktails generally have 3 component parts:
- The base, the spirit.
- The Modifier or flavour, generally a liqueur.
- The Mixer, generally the largest ingredient quantity wise, fruit juice or sparkles (soda/tonic/prosecco)
So then we all got 'muddling' with a tasty Mojito. This time built up in the glass:
So in goes 2 tsp of sugar, 1/2 a lime chopped up and 8-10 fresh mint leaves. These are worked or "muddled" together to release the oils and juices.
Add 2 measures of white rum, 50ml, stir, fill glass with ice, top up with soda, stir again and garnish with mint.
Our final demonstration was a Cosmopolitan:
Into a shaker goes ice and 2 measures (50ml) of vodka, 1 measure (25ml) of triple sec, 2 measures (50ml) of cranberry juice, 1 (25ml) measure of lime cordial. Finally a 1/8 of lime (squeeze the lime and add the wedge).
SHAKE!!!!
Pour into a Martini glass and finally squeeze in an 1/8 wedge of lime and add the wedge to the glass.
- The base, the spirit.
- The Modifier or flavour, generally a liqueur.
- The Mixer, generally the largest ingredient quantity wise, fruit juice or sparkles (soda/tonic/prosecco)
So then we all got 'muddling' with a tasty Mojito. This time built up in the glass:
So in goes 2 tsp of sugar, 1/2 a lime chopped up and 8-10 fresh mint leaves. These are worked or "muddled" together to release the oils and juices.
Add 2 measures of white rum, 50ml, stir, fill glass with ice, top up with soda, stir again and garnish with mint.
Our final demonstration was a Cosmopolitan:
Into a shaker goes ice and 2 measures (50ml) of vodka, 1 measure (25ml) of triple sec, 2 measures (50ml) of cranberry juice, 1 (25ml) measure of lime cordial. Finally a 1/8 of lime (squeeze the lime and add the wedge).
SHAKE!!!!
Pour into a Martini glass and finally squeeze in an 1/8 wedge of lime and add the wedge to the glass.
To round the evening off we learnt about the different types of liqueurs. These are divided up into 5 types: the spirit based (Drambuie, Tia Maria), the cream based (Baileys), those based on fruit (Midori, Limoncello), the herbal ones (Benedictine, Chartreuse) and those created for the cocktail market (Bols, Marie Brizzard, Creme de Menthe.).
Finally some useful tips to keep us on the right track:
- Experiment - will the elements and flavours work well together? Just think ahead about this, would you eat them together, then why not try drinking them together!
- Put the mixer element (the cheaper bit) in the cocktail shaker first.
- Don't put any fizzy component into the shaker!
- Generally the ice stays in the shaker, unless you are building a drink in a glass.
- Enjoy...Cheers!
The photos speak for themselves as a fun evening was had by all.
Finally some useful tips to keep us on the right track:
- Experiment - will the elements and flavours work well together? Just think ahead about this, would you eat them together, then why not try drinking them together!
- Put the mixer element (the cheaper bit) in the cocktail shaker first.
- Don't put any fizzy component into the shaker!
- Generally the ice stays in the shaker, unless you are building a drink in a glass.
- Enjoy...Cheers!
The photos speak for themselves as a fun evening was had by all.
Let the music begin...
22nd April via zoom
Thank you Simone (from Believe Academy in Hucknall) for getting us smiling and moving to music.
Strictly Come Dancing it wasn't, but there is nothing better than music to make you feel good about yourself and put a smile on your face. All you need is a little space and instructions from Simone and off you go...
Everyone who took part enjoyed the gentle exercise through dance, and benefitted working at their own level and having their spirits lifted by the activity.
Strictly Come Dancing it wasn't, but there is nothing better than music to make you feel good about yourself and put a smile on your face. All you need is a little space and instructions from Simone and off you go...
Everyone who took part enjoyed the gentle exercise through dance, and benefitted working at their own level and having their spirits lifted by the activity.
Etiquette and Afternoon Tea
1st April 2021 via zoom
We were honoured with the presence of the Baroness of Bolsover to educate us on the etiquette of Victorian Afternoon Tea. Fortunately she didn't have to travel far as her son owns the Welbeck estate.
We heard how Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, "invented" afternoon tea to ward of the "sinking" feeling in the middle of the afternoon and then how it became a wonderful way to hear the gossip and visit other people. In fact it was possible to visit up to 7 people in any one day as you limited your visit to 30 minutes maximum.
We heard how Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, "invented" afternoon tea to ward of the "sinking" feeling in the middle of the afternoon and then how it became a wonderful way to hear the gossip and visit other people. In fact it was possible to visit up to 7 people in any one day as you limited your visit to 30 minutes maximum.
So remember:
- Victorian ladies often added Gin to their tea (think that went down well with some of our members).
- Tiny, tiny cakes and a scone should be broken at the natural crease, jam then cream - that is how Queen Victoria ate hers.
- Sandwiches should be the size of your finger - just two or three tiny bites.
- Wear your hat (unless you are the hostess), but not your gloves.
- Keep that pinky finger tucked in!
- Push the teaspoon backwards and forwards, do not stir or clink the delicate china.
- Preferably host the tea, then you can wear a more comfortable wrap gown, no hat and more importantly no corset!
- Enjoy the gossip!
- Victorian ladies often added Gin to their tea (think that went down well with some of our members).
- Tiny, tiny cakes and a scone should be broken at the natural crease, jam then cream - that is how Queen Victoria ate hers.
- Sandwiches should be the size of your finger - just two or three tiny bites.
- Wear your hat (unless you are the hostess), but not your gloves.
- Keep that pinky finger tucked in!
- Push the teaspoon backwards and forwards, do not stir or clink the delicate china.
- Preferably host the tea, then you can wear a more comfortable wrap gown, no hat and more importantly no corset!
- Enjoy the gossip!
Spoons...
18th March via Zoom
What fun! You can tell by our faces that a great evening was had by all, thanks to Jo May who taught us how to play the spoons! Unfortunately an internet glitch meant that we lost a number of members, but they can catch up on the Youtube links below.
It was one of those evenings that you weren't quite sure about, but it turned into an evening of hilarity and great achievement as we all played along to The Drunken Sailor at the end Just a shame I forgot to press record!
Who knew there were so many types of spoons that you could play and some that are made specifically for playing! Jo also demonstrated the use of the "Bones" and "Bodhran Drum" often featured in Irish bands.
I think we are all going to remember 'Leg, Leg, Hand and Roll Downs' for a long time and, as we do, a big smile will be on our faces.
It was one of those evenings that you weren't quite sure about, but it turned into an evening of hilarity and great achievement as we all played along to The Drunken Sailor at the end Just a shame I forgot to press record!
Who knew there were so many types of spoons that you could play and some that are made specifically for playing! Jo also demonstrated the use of the "Bones" and "Bodhran Drum" often featured in Irish bands.
I think we are all going to remember 'Leg, Leg, Hand and Roll Downs' for a long time and, as we do, a big smile will be on our faces.
So to keep practising and honing those skills. Take a look at Jo's You Tube videos below;
Types of spoons:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KriHpKZbnoA
Leg Hand Leg:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlckGxaJjx0
The Roll:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjEfF288ass
More videos can be found on Jo's YouTube Channel - have fun!
www.youtube.com/c/JoMayPercussion/featured
Types of spoons:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KriHpKZbnoA
Leg Hand Leg:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlckGxaJjx0
The Roll:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjEfF288ass
More videos can be found on Jo's YouTube Channel - have fun!
www.youtube.com/c/JoMayPercussion/featured
Ditch the Plastic
25th February via Zoom
Wendy Paton from East Edge Sisters WI was our speaker and she gave us lots of hints and tips on how to 'Ditch Plastic'.
Who knew that the chemicals in plastic are possibly linked to so many diseases - infertility, heart disease and cancer. Wendy told us her own personal circumstances and, whilst an advocate for getting rid of plastic where ever possible, was also very much of the school of thought that when it is worn out replace it with something that isn't plastic and it will probably last a lot longer.
From the simple things like buying loose food and where possible using your own containers, to using milk in glass bottles and foraging (as long as you know what you are doing), drying your own herbs for tea and making your own yogurt, as this can all make the food we eat that little bit less reliant on plastic.
In the kitchen - using products like eco eggs for your washing, getting refills for containers as opposed to buying a new bottle each time, using reusable dish clothes and scourers made out of coconut and getting bees wax food wraps, all make the kitchen a little more plastic friendly (or is that unfriendly).
In the bathroom why not: try shampoo bars, again refill your own containers, use bamboo toothbrushes and old fashioned razors as well as making your own lotions out of herbs.
It was a thought-provoking talk and we all gained a number of ideas which we could adopt to make our own lives a little more plastic free. Wendy has very kindly provided the presentation to us and this will be uploaded to our private Facebook page.
Who knew that the chemicals in plastic are possibly linked to so many diseases - infertility, heart disease and cancer. Wendy told us her own personal circumstances and, whilst an advocate for getting rid of plastic where ever possible, was also very much of the school of thought that when it is worn out replace it with something that isn't plastic and it will probably last a lot longer.
From the simple things like buying loose food and where possible using your own containers, to using milk in glass bottles and foraging (as long as you know what you are doing), drying your own herbs for tea and making your own yogurt, as this can all make the food we eat that little bit less reliant on plastic.
In the kitchen - using products like eco eggs for your washing, getting refills for containers as opposed to buying a new bottle each time, using reusable dish clothes and scourers made out of coconut and getting bees wax food wraps, all make the kitchen a little more plastic friendly (or is that unfriendly).
In the bathroom why not: try shampoo bars, again refill your own containers, use bamboo toothbrushes and old fashioned razors as well as making your own lotions out of herbs.
It was a thought-provoking talk and we all gained a number of ideas which we could adopt to make our own lives a little more plastic free. Wendy has very kindly provided the presentation to us and this will be uploaded to our private Facebook page.
Mysteries of the London Underground
18th February 2021 via Zoom
Julie Chambers took us on a journey through the London Underground - but this was an unusual journey as she talked us through the more hidden aspects of the Underground which are not on public view.
Julie started her career with London Underground at Euston, but her inquisitive mind soon delved into the parts the public cannot reach - closed stations and underground tunnels now used as stockrooms, buildings with false facades hiding underground air shafts, disused stations for the public but enabling them to be still used for storing trains or running fibreoptic cables, filming and other interesting usages of what were once underground stations.
There are derelict tunnels where posters from the 60s can still be seen. During the war, stations, like Down Street in Mayfair, were converted into 'war rooms' not only for the Government but also for London Transport. Even today it remains fitted out as it was in the war.
23 and 24 Leinster Gardens, off Bayswater Road, are not what they seem! They look from the outside like the continuation of the very expensive block of houses, however, if you look really closely the windows are painted on and if you walked through the front door you'd fall onto tracks.
Some of the preserved stations are used by filming companies, especially if the filming dates back to pre-war, 50s and 60s. Charing Cross station was transformed into a New York subway station.
Such an interesting talk, we never know what lies beneath our feet or what is behind or in a building.
If you'd like to see and hear Julie's talk, it's on our Lapwings Facebook page.
Julie started her career with London Underground at Euston, but her inquisitive mind soon delved into the parts the public cannot reach - closed stations and underground tunnels now used as stockrooms, buildings with false facades hiding underground air shafts, disused stations for the public but enabling them to be still used for storing trains or running fibreoptic cables, filming and other interesting usages of what were once underground stations.
There are derelict tunnels where posters from the 60s can still be seen. During the war, stations, like Down Street in Mayfair, were converted into 'war rooms' not only for the Government but also for London Transport. Even today it remains fitted out as it was in the war.
23 and 24 Leinster Gardens, off Bayswater Road, are not what they seem! They look from the outside like the continuation of the very expensive block of houses, however, if you look really closely the windows are painted on and if you walked through the front door you'd fall onto tracks.
Some of the preserved stations are used by filming companies, especially if the filming dates back to pre-war, 50s and 60s. Charing Cross station was transformed into a New York subway station.
Such an interesting talk, we never know what lies beneath our feet or what is behind or in a building.
If you'd like to see and hear Julie's talk, it's on our Lapwings Facebook page.
A Boost for us all...
28th January 2021 via Zoom
A evening of looking after ourselves was just what we needed on a cold wet January night. Obviously it's a great boost seeing everyone, but we were lucky enough to be led through an evening of self care by Pam Burrows a proclaimed People Booster.
Pam took us through a number of techniques to help with stress reduction and talked us through good habit stacking to make these techniques part of our lives.
Don't forget the CARE model:
Care - for your self, don't beat yourself up about things you haven't achieved
Acknowledge - what you have achieved (even if it seems small, a gratitude journal may help)
Reality - keep it realistic, say no
Energy - eat, sleep, keep hydrated and find joy
Pam took us through a number of techniques to help with stress reduction and talked us through good habit stacking to make these techniques part of our lives.
Don't forget the CARE model:
Care - for your self, don't beat yourself up about things you haven't achieved
Acknowledge - what you have achieved (even if it seems small, a gratitude journal may help)
Reality - keep it realistic, say no
Energy - eat, sleep, keep hydrated and find joy
Pam offers a number of free resources such as a weekly Monday morning email, and virtual spas so please check out her website. The next Spa evening is on the 22nd of February so book your ticket now.
A recording of our evening can be found here, the passcode is available from our secretary or on our Facebook page.
us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/naZOmNDA9MX3ncfRkFFWvdJ5glf0RajvIk41jhATpL96Nm8TNn7MTMl3ZsY56WLB.cFq4tSE25fQCJWNr?fbclid=IwAR0COjXCcTAGn5bZPGXVHQlB9o2B_V3RssuK9g5AhuhspJhhbNfzPTSehEM
A recording of our evening can be found here, the passcode is available from our secretary or on our Facebook page.
us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/naZOmNDA9MX3ncfRkFFWvdJ5glf0RajvIk41jhATpL96Nm8TNn7MTMl3ZsY56WLB.cFq4tSE25fQCJWNr?fbclid=IwAR0COjXCcTAGn5bZPGXVHQlB9o2B_V3RssuK9g5AhuhspJhhbNfzPTSehEM
Happy Christmas...
14th January 2021 via zoom
In true Lapwings style we had our Christmas Party in January!
What a turnout, nearly 50 of our members joined in our zoom party, armed with a drink and a nibble, we had a fun packed evening.
We started with a game of bingo and our sparkling host Maggie kept us in check. This then dissolved into much hilarity with 3 rounds of a Scavenger Hunt, led by Janet.
What a turnout, nearly 50 of our members joined in our zoom party, armed with a drink and a nibble, we had a fun packed evening.
We started with a game of bingo and our sparkling host Maggie kept us in check. This then dissolved into much hilarity with 3 rounds of a Scavenger Hunt, led by Janet.
Jan then taxed our musical knowledge with a Music quiz and finally Janet finished the entertainment with 3 rounds of Tenable. Who knew Walkers crisps came in so many flavours...
The evening finished with a computer generated prize draw which resulted in 5 lucky members winning next year's membership for our wonderful WI subscription for free.
A fun evening was had by all our attendees and it was great to see so many people. Hopefully a few more will continue to join us at our meetings, look out for details in Janet's weekly email.
The evening finished with a computer generated prize draw which resulted in 5 lucky members winning next year's membership for our wonderful WI subscription for free.
A fun evening was had by all our attendees and it was great to see so many people. Hopefully a few more will continue to join us at our meetings, look out for details in Janet's weekly email.
A Musical Interlude
30th December 2020 via zoom
What a fun way to end this year. We had Phil Rylance talk us through the 50's and 60's music scene. He explained the basic rhythms and demonstrated them. His first guitar was purchased for the princely sum of £3 in 1953 and he taught himself to play (and pose with it).
For a young lad growing up in Crewe, where the whole family history was orientated towards working in the railway industry, it was a remarkable story. While playing with The Hot Rods they had been the support band for The Beatles at the Iron Door Club in Liverpool. Their fee for the gig was £12, whereas The Beatles were paid £25!
His first job was working as a Bingo caller in Blackpool, when, as a member of the The Crescents, had a call from Brian Epstein and went on to accompany Cilla on tour. Unfortunately their own single success was not great, as the single they recorded at Abbey Road only made it No. 39 in the charts.
The evening sped by as Phil told his tales and quizzed us on our musical knowledge from this era.
All of us enjoyed the evening, however it would be great to see a few more members joining us in the future. If anyone is struggling with Zoom, please just ask and someone will help you through the process.
For a young lad growing up in Crewe, where the whole family history was orientated towards working in the railway industry, it was a remarkable story. While playing with The Hot Rods they had been the support band for The Beatles at the Iron Door Club in Liverpool. Their fee for the gig was £12, whereas The Beatles were paid £25!
His first job was working as a Bingo caller in Blackpool, when, as a member of the The Crescents, had a call from Brian Epstein and went on to accompany Cilla on tour. Unfortunately their own single success was not great, as the single they recorded at Abbey Road only made it No. 39 in the charts.
The evening sped by as Phil told his tales and quizzed us on our musical knowledge from this era.
All of us enjoyed the evening, however it would be great to see a few more members joining us in the future. If anyone is struggling with Zoom, please just ask and someone will help you through the process.
For earlier activities please refer to the archive pages
GENERAL INFO
MEMBERSHIP
Current membership - 150
Please contact us to enquire about our waiting list.
Current membership - 150
Please contact us to enquire about our waiting list.
OFFICIALS
President - Joanna Oldham
Secretary - Janet Stevenson
Treasurer - Teresa Hogg
Welfare - Ann Whyte
Committee - Sue Arnold
- Jan Carrier
- Kath Howard
- Maggie Huckerby
- Joanna Parris
- Janet Tilford
President - Joanna Oldham
Secretary - Janet Stevenson
Treasurer - Teresa Hogg
Welfare - Ann Whyte
Committee - Sue Arnold
- Jan Carrier
- Kath Howard
- Maggie Huckerby
- Joanna Parris
- Janet Tilford
NATIONAL LINKS
The WI web site
(which now has a search facility for your local WI group based on your postcode
The MOODLE
(which now has a search facility for your local WI group based on your postcode
The MOODLE
NOTTS FEDERATION LINKS
COUNTY HOUSE
The federation office:
Trent Bridge House,
Beastmarket Hill,
Newark,
Nottinghamshire.
NG24 1BN
Opening times are:
Mon–Wed only 9am – 3pm
Email : secretary@nottswi.org.uk
Tel: 01636 67 3550
The Nottinghamshire Federation web pages are here:- Nottinghamshire Federation
You can download documents & booking forms.
WI ADVISERS
These ladies are on hand to give help and advise to you about all aspects of the WI.
They can attend the annual meeting or committee meetings or just offer help on the end of a phone or email.
To get in touch on any WI matters :-
wiadviser.notts@yahoo.com
or check out their phone numbers in the year book.
GROUP'S CO-ORDINATOR
Michelle Jafaar is the Group's co-ordinator.
If you have any questions about any matters concerning your WI group you should direct them to Michelle using this email address:-
wiadviser.notts@yahoo.com
The federation office:
Trent Bridge House,
Beastmarket Hill,
Newark,
Nottinghamshire.
NG24 1BN
Opening times are:
Mon–Wed only 9am – 3pm
Email : secretary@nottswi.org.uk
Tel: 01636 67 3550
The Nottinghamshire Federation web pages are here:- Nottinghamshire Federation
You can download documents & booking forms.
WI ADVISERS
These ladies are on hand to give help and advise to you about all aspects of the WI.
They can attend the annual meeting or committee meetings or just offer help on the end of a phone or email.
To get in touch on any WI matters :-
wiadviser.notts@yahoo.com
or check out their phone numbers in the year book.
GROUP'S CO-ORDINATOR
Michelle Jafaar is the Group's co-ordinator.
If you have any questions about any matters concerning your WI group you should direct them to Michelle using this email address:-
wiadviser.notts@yahoo.com
NOTTS WI WEBSITES
Abbey Gates WI
Arnold WI
Averham Kelham & Staythorpe WI
Bestwood Village WI
Bingham Belles WI
Birds of a Feather Wi (Arnold)
Bleasby
Bramcote
Burton Joyce & Bulcote WI
Chilwell WI
(Nottingham) City WI
Coddington WI
Collingham
Cropwell Bishop
Dorewood WI (Balderton)
East Bridgford WI
East Stoke WI
Egmanton
Elston
Gedling WI
Granby & Sutton WI
Gringley on the Hill WI
Keyworth
Lindhurst
Morton, Fiskerton and Rolleston
Newstead WI
Newark Palace WI
Normanton on Soar
Ollerton WI
Plumtree WI
Radcliffe on Trent
Ravenshead WI
Ruddington WI
Shelford
Southwell WI
Trowell
Vale inspirations
Watnall WI
West Bridgford
Weston
Willoughby on the Wolds
Woodborough WI
Worksop Wonders
There are other WI groups who do not yet have their own websites. Details of these can be found via the Nottinghamshire Federation link above.
Arnold WI
Averham Kelham & Staythorpe WI
Bestwood Village WI
Bingham Belles WI
Birds of a Feather Wi (Arnold)
Bleasby
Bramcote
Burton Joyce & Bulcote WI
Chilwell WI
(Nottingham) City WI
Coddington WI
Collingham
Cropwell Bishop
Dorewood WI (Balderton)
East Bridgford WI
East Stoke WI
Egmanton
Elston
Gedling WI
Granby & Sutton WI
Gringley on the Hill WI
Keyworth
Lindhurst
Morton, Fiskerton and Rolleston
Newstead WI
Newark Palace WI
Normanton on Soar
Ollerton WI
Plumtree WI
Radcliffe on Trent
Ravenshead WI
Ruddington WI
Shelford
Southwell WI
Trowell
Vale inspirations
Watnall WI
West Bridgford
Weston
Willoughby on the Wolds
Woodborough WI
Worksop Wonders
There are other WI groups who do not yet have their own websites. Details of these can be found via the Nottinghamshire Federation link above.
