July 2012 Newsletter

Hello and Welcome to our July 2012 newsletter.

Our aim is to be able to update you on anything you have missed over the last month or so, especially if you missed a meeting.

July Meeting

7 members attended, we had 7 apologies, and we were joined by 2 visitors.

July was our members craft evening, and despite our low attendance there were several items on our display table, including pottery, jewellery and sugar craft, and an outstanding display of quilted and patchwork items brought along by our visitors, and equally impressive items brought along by Jan Davies.    

Supper Club

Next Supper Club date is 19^th October.

Book Club

July date has been moved forward to 13^th August.  The book to be discussed is “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami.  Same venue and time.  

WI Banner

We mentioned this in the last newsletter; open for discussion at our September meeting.  Any thoughts ladies and what about designs for a logo?  All ideas welcome for consideration.

Now onto our September meeting.  This is to be our evening for discussing our programme for 2013.  Is there some subject you would like discussed, is there a subject you would like to know more about, is there something you would like to see demonstrated, is there a local project going on that you would like to know more about.  Please bear in mind that most speakers do require a fee and, as a very small group our funds are limited, but it is your WI, so please let us know what you want and we will do our best to arrange it for you.  The committee have already started making a list for your consideration, but we would ask you to come along in September with ideas of your own.  We will have a display board showing the ideas we have already come up with, but please come prepared to add to the list.

This is down on the programme as a “Bring a Bite” evening - this has now been changed to “Come along and enjoy a Bite”; bites will be arranged by the committee.

Recipe for the month

Not quite sure where this fits in as a course; it comes from an American book of salad recipes.  It can be served as a starter, or at a buffet – some people have even asked if it’s a dessert.  If you are entertaining it can be prepared well in advance and taken out of the freezer just 15 minutes before you want to serve it.

PINEAPPLE MINT FREEZE

1 (20 1/2 oz.) can crushed pineapple 1 envelope. (1 tbsp.) unflavored gelatin 1 (10 oz.) jar mint jelly 1 c. whipping cream 1 tsp. confectioners' sugar Drain pineapple, reserving syrup. In saucepan soften gelatin in syrup. Add jelly and dash of salt; heat and stir until gelatin is dissolved and jelly melted, if needed beat to blend jelly. Stir in pineapple. Chill until mixture is thickened and syrupy. Whip cream with sugar; fold into thickened gelatin mixture. tint with a few drops green food coloring if desired. Spoon into 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 2 1/2" loaf pan. Freeze until firm. Let stand at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Unmold; slice and place on lettuce lined salad plates. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs, if desired. Serves 8.

Thought for the month: 

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat? 

	Venue	Date	Payment  by
GFWI Dinner   £20 (Beef or vegetarian option, apple pie, tea/coffee)	Hi-Tide Inn, Porthcawl, Guest speaker Mike Doyle	Tuesday 23rd October 2012, 7pm for 7.30pm	28th September 2012
Afternoon of Bridge   £5 (WI members only)	Ystradown Village Hall	Saturday 24th November 2012, 2 pm	12th October 2012
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Adults £10, Children £7.50	Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl	Weds 21st November 2012, 7.15 pm Thurs 22nd November 2012, 7.15 pm	26th October 2012
Energy in creation, generation and obesity.  £5 *Another Special Science Event Please see information table for more information.	Briton Ferry Community Hall Ararat Community Hall, Whitchurch	Wed 28th November 2012, 2 - 4.30 pm Thurs 29th November 2012, 6-8.30 pm	12th October 2012
Autumn Council Meeting  £6	Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl.  Speaker – Miranda Krestovnikoff	Monday 5th November 2012, 10:45 am – 3:30 pm	19th October 2012
W I Crafts at Cowbridge  £1	Cowbridge Town Hall	Saturday 17th November 2012	28th September 2012
The 90th Anniversary Celebrations Start in November 2012.  Details of the programme from November 2012 to December 2012, which includes a Carol Festival and Parade of WI Banners at St David’s Hall on 2nd December 2013, will be available at each meeting.  There is a 90 mile walk for W I member – don’t panic, the 90 miles are split up over the whole period of the celebrations, starting at Porthcawl on 19th February 2013.  There are two walks on offer that day, both leaving from Rest Bay Car Park, as follows: ·               Walk A – moderate circular walk from Rest Bay to Nottage, Sker Point and return to Rest Bay along coastal path.  5 – 6 miles.  Walking boots/stout shoes necessary. ·               Walk B – linear walk from Rest Bay to Sker Point and back. 2 – 3 miles Cost of each walk is £3 and the closing date is 18th January 2013. There will be a further walk each month throughout the celebration year – locations, but not full details, are given on the programme for the year.  The Pontypridd walk will be in August 2013.  I’m sure that full details of this walk, and all the others, will be sent to us in plenty of time to give us the opportunity to apply for places. Ring Erica on 01443 409959 or email hillse@sky.com if you want further information before the next meeting

June 2012 Newsletter

Hello and Welcome to our June 2012 newsletter.

Our aim is to be able to update you on anything you have missed over the last month or so, especially if you missed a meeting.

June Meeting

13 members attended and we had 6 apologies.

Emma, our President has a lot to look forward this year – wedding and new arrival, and she has decided that the time has come for her to concentrate on other things and has resigned as President.   We are sure that you would all like to thank Emma for the energy and enthusiasm she has given our WI, and we hope that we will be able to continue to enjoy it from her as a member.

The Bee Lady

This month we were joined by Jeannie Hainsworth Lamb who gave us a fascinating talk about bees and how she became a bee keeper.  Jeannie is very keen on ethical beekeeping and in assisting the bee population of Wales.   Jenny has asked that any diabetics among us take the appropriate medical advice before enjoying too much of her lovely honey

Supper Club

Seven of us met at La Trattoria in High Street this month; as always a very pleasant evening.  Really good food, and no washing up afterwards, and at £9 for two courses, very good value too.

Book Club

The first meeting of the book club at the home of Anne Evans, was small but perfectly formed.  The book club is planned for last Monday of each month.  Book for June is “Rule of the Bone” and for July “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami.   

Food Bank

And please don’t forget our chosen charity for the year, the local Food Bank.  Any donations of non-perishable food (e.g. canned fruit and veg, UHT milk, Packet soups etc) are acceptable; doesn’t need to be anything expensive, but will be of great value to a local family in financial difficulty – on the increase now in the current financial climate.

WI Banner

We mentioned this in the last newsletter.  Any thoughts ladies, and what about designs for a logo.

All ideas welcome for consideration.

Our July meeting is Members craft evening, with the emphasis on Members.  If you have anything you would like to contribute to the evening, please let us know.  You can email Erica at hillse@sky.com to let her know if you have any talents you can share with us.  Even if you don’t want to give a demonstration, please think seriously about adding your pieces of craftwork to the display table which we will be arranging for the evening.

Now onto our September meeting.  This is to be our evening for discussing our programme for 2013.  Thinking ahead what we are asking is that you come along to the July meeting with at least one idea for our programme next year, so that we can start making enquiries and planning a draft programme in time for discussion at the meeting in September.  Is there some subject you would like discussed, is there a subject you would like to know more about, is there something you would like to see demonstrated, is there a local project going on that you would like to know more about.  Please bear in mind that most speakers do require a fee and, as a very small group our funds are limited, but it is your WI, so please let us know what you want and we will do our best to arrange it for you.

Instead of a recipe this month, we have a sandwich idea.  An invitation from a friend for coffee turned into an invitation for lunch, until she remembered she had little to offer a non-meat eater, but not to be beaten she came up with the idea of a pear and walnut sandwich, but her cupboard was bare of walnuts, so it became a pear and pine nut sandwich.  She buttered white bread and filled it with slices of blush pears and toasted pine nuts.  Sitting in the garden in the sunshine (yes we have had some this year although it is difficult to remember) delicious, and a sandwich idea that has been used several times since with both pine nuts and walnuts. 

Thought for the month

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

	Venue	Date	Payment  by
Outdoor Bowls Tournament Cost per team of four - £20	Kenfig Hill & Pyle Bowls Club (Bring packed lunch – tea and coffee available)	Saturday 8th September 2012	20th July
What Makes Wales Welsh £12	Llanharry Workingmen’s Club	Saturday 13th October 2012, 10am to 4pm	27th July 2012
GFWI Dinner   £20 (Beef or vegetarian option, apple pie, tea/coffee)	Hi-Tide Inn, Porthcawl, Guest speaker Mike Doyle	Tuesday 23rd October 2012, 7pm for 7.30pm	28th September 2012
Afternoon of Bridge   £5 (WI members only)	Ystradown Village Hall	Saturday 24th November 2012, 2 pm	12th October 2012
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Adults £10, Children £7.50	Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl	Weds 21st November 2012, 7.15 pm Thurs 22nd November 2012, 7.15 pm	26th October 2012
Energy in creation, generation and obesity.  £5 *Another Special Science Event Please see information table for more information.	Briton Ferry Community Hall Ararat Community Hall, Whitchurch	Wed 28th November 2012, 2 - 4.30 pm Thurs 29th November 2012, 6-8.30 pm	12th October 2012