WI News February 2015

THE SUTTONS WI

In January our speakers were Trudie Nicholas and Amy Makaruk from T.A. Matthews solicitors, who spoke about 'Planning for the Future'.

They told us how important it is to make a will, to make things easier for our relatives and to ensure that our wishes are carried out. It is better to use a solicitor, to avoid any legal problems. It is also important to review wills regularly, especially if there has been any change in circumstances. They also briefly covered Inheritance Tax, and how it can be reduced with careful planning. They told us about the different types of joint ownership of property, and their implications, and also about property held in trust. Again it is also important to document your wishes, e.g. for the rights of elderly relatives who may be living at the property. They explained Lasting Power of Attorney, which gives permission for someone to take charge of your affairs if you are unable to do so, due to ill health or incapacity. It is important at any age. If there is no Lasting Power of Attorney, relatives have to apply to the Court of Protection, which can take a long time to arrange.

Finally , Trudie and Amy presented a scenario which gave examples of what could happen if there was no 'Planning for the Future', which certainly made us all think hard about what we had in place. It was a very informative evening, and they made what could have been a dry subject very interesting.

Our next meeting is on 18th February, at 7.30 in Sutton St Nicholas Village Hall, when Robert Williams will be 'Getting High on Hereford' – an alternative view of the city!

HOLMER

Holmer were introduced to a wonderful collection of Victorian Dolls, each having its own individual story.  The owner of the collection Collette Gray is so knowledgable and enthusiastic you cannot help but enjoy the talk.  It was an evening of  introductions as members were told who their WI friend had been over the past year.

SALTMARSHE

At our February meeting - first of the year for us - our Speaker was one of our own members: Linda Marsden, taking as her theme "Back Care". It was interesting to get a brief resume of Linda's working life, including a period of 5 years living in Kuwait.One day, whilst daydreaming sat on a beach, Linda reflected on her long term wish to get a degree in some subject.She and her family were due to soon return to the U.K. and at that time the daily papers were full of Britain's wish to recruit more social workers, teachers and nurses.When she told friends she intended to begin training as a social worker in the future, two of her colleagues there protested saying "But you'd make an excellent nurse. Why not train as a nurse ? " Such are the decisions we make that shape our lives.

So, Linda DID become a nurse and remained so for the rest of her working life, culminating in being a Manual Handling Trainer and Back Care Adviser, within the NHS. Linda explained how the spine is structured. She got us thinking about lifting, carrying,reaching,bending and other basic human movements. Hold items close to the body, bend the knees rather than the back. Twisting motion is very hard on the spine, so for this always try to remember" Keep your face in the same direction as your feet".In a sentence,the best advice is "Keep your spine in line at all times" From there, Linda moved on to lifestyle and tips to help your back when driving, gardening, sleeping, sitting at leisure or working on a computer and so on. Ergonomics is fitting the task to the person rather than the other way round. We certainly went home knowing more about the way our bodies work, movement-wise, and how to best protect our backs.

Next month, Wednesday March 11th @ 2pm, we're pleased to have the company of some ladies from our "twin" W.I. in Ledbury, who will join us to hear David Hill talking on being "Completely lost in Herefordshire". David was so popular when he gave us his first talk on this subject that we just HAD to ask him for a return visit. Visitors are always welcome and we meet in Saltmarshe Village Hall, just off the road to Stourport.

BISHOPSWOOD

Bishopswood W.I. met at the Village Hall on Friday, 13th February, at 2.30pm.  February is always a members'  meeting, which began as usual with Jerusalem.  Our scrapbooks were on display, being of special interest for our new members as we are one of the oldest institutes in Herefordshire.  Our 96th birthday will be celebrated in March.

After the usual business we enjoyed a very noisy game of Loony Bingo, won by Mrs Linda DeZaaijer, second Mrs Kathy Hargest, third Mrs Gloria Clark.  Mrs Jenny Winchester was the winner of the competition for the whackiest beetle.

LEDBURY

Our speaker for February was Lis Dobb-Sandi, who was able to attend at short notice, our scheduled speaker being unable to come.  Lis from Zimbabwe was told, together with her husband to leave the country in 2003 with only three days' notice due to political views. Lis could obtain a British passport due to her grandfather being British and her husband was able to obtain a visa.  What do you take that's irreplaceable? Lots of photos were sorted, the hard drive from the computer and enough clothes for the normal baggage allowance for a flight to London. Not wishing to live in London, and without any contacts or relatives in the country, a random point on a map bought from W H Smiths meant a coach journey to Oxford to begin a new life. There was some money from an account in Jersey, but jobs were urgently needed and accommodation found in student digs. Eventually Lis became a bus driver in Oxford, after a 3 months training course, for over 6 years. Lis is a natural story teller and entertained us with stories of 'lost property' on the bus, once finding a baby left by a mother distracted by her toddler running off.  We were also told of the tale of blowing up of a huge rock when clearing the site in Zimbabwe for the house she built – 'Health & Safety' being non-existent. Margaret thanked Lis for such an interesting talk about the upheaval in her life of leaving Zimbabwe and settling into life in England.

HUNTINGTON-HEREFORD

Huntington-Hereford's W.I. President welcomed three new members and two visitors to the February meeting and said it was lovely to see several new faces after losing a few members due to health and other problems last year.

Members were urged to sign up for the outing to Bourton on the Water in May and the Aberystwyth theatre trip in July which is an annual event. Family and friends are welcome to join us at both events.

The Speaker this month was Margaret Joel ably assisted by her husband Ken with slides and video footage of Papua New Guinea where they had lived and she had worked as a Nurse for many years. She told many stories and sometimes hilarious ones of patient care by the staff and how she overcame and learnt their pigeon English caring for these still very native dwellers on this beautiful yet at times fierce –some group of Islands, where head-hunters once reined and perhaps even still do so today with sorcery.  Tribal fighting is still a big problem within the 700 different tribes living on the Island. Members agreed she was very brave to have worked in these Hospitals.

KINGTON

Our speaker was Malcolm Price who gave us a talk on the Midland Ambulance Service. He joined in 1984 and has seen a lot of changes over the years. He showed us a selection of slides showing the difference over this time.

He gave us helpful advice on dealing with lacerations,burns,heart attacks and strokes while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

EARDISLAND

Eardisland in February were visited by Sarah Parkinson from "Bunnies, Bugs and Beasties."

Her talk was very amusing with reference to her life story and then we were able to get close up to hissing crickets, giant African millipedes, a Chile Rosa tarantula, Cornelius the corn snake and finally two Guinea pigs who won everyone's hearts. It was a brilliant evening and the best speaker for a long, long time. After wiping our hands with medicated wipes provided by the speaker, we enjoyed refreshments.

In March we look forward to a visit from our local community policeman, Dick Allford who doubles up working for an undertaker.

WYE WOMEN

In our February meeting Wye Women enjoyed a very interesting talk from Cameron Addlicott.
Cameron is a former undercover officer with HM Customs, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency. This talk provoked many questions from our members!

Wye Women had invited members from our twin/paired WI, Leominster Lasses, and we were delighted to welcome several members to our meeting, there was plenty of chat, exchanging of ideas and of course tea!

BOSBURY

President Rosemary welcomed members to the February meeting. She reported the sad news that past President, Thela Jones, had died at the age of 99.  Thela joined WI when she and her husband retired to Bosbury and became a very active member.

A team will be entering the quiz on 19 March at the Community Centre, Ledbury.  Lisa Fisher then gave us a fascinating demonstration on "Empowering through Colour and Style".  Lisa told us that most British women wear 15% of their wardrobe 85% of the time and she help women of all ages choose clothes of the right colour to suit them, based on a colour wheel.

The next meeting in the parish hall will be on  Thursday 12 March when Susanne Harper will be talking about Feng Shui.  The craft evening is on Thursday 19 March.  For further information please telephone 01531 640029.  New members are always welcome.

If you are looking for new interests why not come and join us.

LEOMINSTER

Leominster WI enjoyed a very interesting and successful meeting with Cameron Addicott, the under cover investigator.