March/April 2010 Newsletter

Hello and Welcome to our March/April Newsletter.

Hopefully we will be able to update you on anything you have missed over the last month or so.

Supper Club
At the beginning of March we had our first Supper Club meeting when we met at La Trattoria in Pontypridd High Street. Good food, good service and good company were enjoyed and anyone who thought that because we started at 6:30 we would be home in time for an early night would be wrong. We were enjoying ourselves so much they nearly had to eject us from the place at 10:00 pm. The April supper club didn’t have such good attendance as the first but was still very enjoyable. Although we are staying with La Trattoria for the next supper club, the venue is open to suggestions should anyone have any alternative ideas, but so that you will know the dates for your diaries – Supper Club will be on the first Thursday of each month.

Reading Circle
The first book chosen for the Reading circle was The Island by Victoria Hislop Unfortunately Lynne and Erica were not able to join in the discussion because they had started reading Small Island by Andrea Levy an entirely different story! There was no book chosen for the April book club, but members were invited to read a book of their own choosing and share their thoughts with others members of the reading circle. For those who have not yet been to the reading circle, the title of the book for May will be available at the next meeting. The reading circle meets on the last Wednesday of each month at Gelliwastad Road Club.

Calendar Girls Theatre Trip
Emma still has tickets available should anyone want to go on Friday 30th July at 7.30pm. Seats are in the upper circle and tickets are £15.00. Speak to Emma if you would like a ticket, but please note payment must be made at the May meeting.

March Meeting
We had a very interested and entertaining talk from two lady magistrates.They gave us an insight into their experiences on the bench over the last 20 years. Although some of the tales were quite humorous, on a more solemn note their experiences illustrated desperate conditions that lead some unfortunate people into crime and that although there are strict guidelines, the inidividual circumstances of each case must be considered.

April Meeting
Marie Williams and her friend Angela joined us in April to tell us about the benefits of holistic therapies. Marie is a Reiki master and offers a range of treatments, including reflexology and Indian head massage. Angela talked about crystal therapies and explained the essence of the different minerals she brought along with her. Again a very interesting presentation and lots of food for thought if you haven’t considered these treatments previously, or if you just want help in relaxing.

Monthly meetings
From January (although the snow prevented us from meeting in January) we thought we would try an earlier start to our monthly meetings – with the darker winter nights it might have been better for people to get home a little earlier. However the 7:00 pm start had not worked out well after discussion with members at out last meeting the majority felt the later start was easier. So meeting times – second Wednesday of each month with a 7:30 start.

May meeting – 12th May
June meeting - 9th June
July meeting – 14th July
August – no meeting

Please feel free to pass these dates on to anyone you think would be interested in joining us.

Marga Quince will be joining us for our May meeting to tell us about volunteering and in particular about the work with Pont – a charitable organisation based in Pontypridd that does valuable work overseas in Africa.

YAWI Secretary
Regrettably, Robin our YAWI Secretary has had to step down for personal reasons. If you have an organised brain and feel you would like to volunteer for this post please let us know as soon as possible.

Your committee needs you!

And in General
Don’t forget this is your WI, so please feel free to let us know of any suggestions you might have for new groups, new activities you think we should try, and generally anything that you think might be of interest to your fellow members (not sure is “fellow members” is appropriate for a female group).

Our YAWI website – www.yawi.co.uk - is still rather “under construction” but you will find some information on there and all past newletters if there is something you think you have missed. And if you have anything to share you with your fellow members (there’s that fellow again) you can add your comments to the website. You can also email us at yawi@hotmail.co.uk.

Recipe for this issue is a very versatile Thai Green Curry. Takes about 30 minutes in total to make and tastes as if you’ve spent hours preparing it. This is a recipe that was available some years ago when Tesco used to have recipe leaflets around the store. There is also something very similar in a Weight Watchers cook book (so healthy to boot) and once you have the basic ingredients for the curry it can be adapted as a meat, fish or vegetarian dish.

1 can of coconut milk
¼ pint stock*
1 clove of garlic
4 lime leaves or a few drops of lime juice
2-4 teaspoons of Thai green curry paste – adjust to your own taste#
4 shallots halves
4 oz fine green beans
4 oz cherry tomatoes halved
12 – 14 oz white fish
chopped fresh coriander.

Place the coconut milk, stock, garlic and lime leaves and curry paste in a pan and bring to the boil. Add the shallots. Allow the mixture to bubble for 10 minutes. Add the green beans and fish and cook for a further 5 minutes. Toss in the tomatoes and coriander and simmer for a further 2 – 3 minutes. Serve with boiled rice.

*This can be made just as easily with cooked chicken (great way to use any left over from roast), seafood cocktail fish mixture, quorn or other additional vegetables. Vary the stock you use according the ingredients.
# One recipe suggests 2-4 teaspoons of Thai green curry paste. 2 teaspoons gives a nice little bite, so it might be a good idea if you want to try this recipe you start here and increase the amount of curry paste next time you make it – and it’s so good you’re bound to want to make it again.

Bon Appetite!

Don’t forget
You can call Emma on 07762493928 or Erica on 01443 409959 if you want any information about any of the groups etc or if you have any ideas you want to run by them. Leave a message and they’ll get back to you if they can’t come to the phone when you call. Please note that Emma will be out of the country between 3-12th May and so it may cost you extra to call her at that time!

And here’s a thought seen at a local hairdressers which might be appropriate

If you like what we offer tell your friends
If you don’t like what we offer tell us – we’ll endeavour to improve.