I dithered about going to the July meeting of Big WI. The speaker was someone who I'd heard at small WI in 2017...............and he did go on a bit!
Anyway I went and he seemed slightly better second time round (or maybe the chairs were more comfortable!) although he did stretch his 45 minutes to an hour.
The speaker was a man who takes guided walks all around the area and had
fantastic slides........ most were photographs he had taken himself and the subject was 'The Wildlife of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths' which was a similar title to what I'd listened to last July.
Given that we lived just a few miles from the Suffolk Coast and Heaths for 23 years I recognised most of the places he had photographed.
He said "this is an interactive talk" and put up photo's of birds and
plants and asked if anyone knew what they were and there were several members who were good at naming birds and plants. Luckily several of his slides were different to what I saw last year so it was interesting.
A Lady from Suffolk East Federation HQ had come along to present certificates to one member who had won the first prize for best WI flower arrangement at the Suffolk Show in May and another member had won Chairman's choice prize for her cot quilt at the Show.
Lots of delicious cakes with coffee of course.
Two weeks later and the speaker at Small WI was Dan Wheals a herbalist with his own Herbal Medicine Practice in Suffolk. (Herbaculture HERE)
He brought along lots of potions for us to sniff and some to taste and told us all about the different uses of herbs for healing and how he makes extracts, infusions and tinctures. An interesting speaker but the talk seemed un-planned and me and sister-in-law both agreed we hadn't really learned anything useful.
Lovely cakes, savories and coffee again.
Small WI had entered a team in the Suffolk East Federation Summer quiz and I should have been there but it was the night after I'd been to the dentist with the infection in the filled tooth and I was in a lot of discomfort so had to pull out. They did ever so well and came 3rd out of 40+ teams.
There was a change of plan for the August meeting which was to have been a theatre trip across the other side of Suffolk but as it was changed to the Regal cinema at Stowmarket to see the 2nd Mamma Mia film and a meal at Prezzos I decided to join in. I didn't even know there was a Prezzos in Stowmarket and haven't been to one before. I'm not especially fond of Abba music but Colin liked it and the first Mamma Mia film was one of the few films he wanted to watch on TV. I expect I can survive 100 minutes of Abba in his memory!
Many thanks for all the comments on cooking for one, apologies for not replying or commenting much elsewhere, busy weekend with Eldest Daughter and Jacob here, a day out on Saturday and then all 3 grandchildren here for a while on Sunday. Couldn't get a photo of them all together as the two older ones wouldn't sit still long enough.
I'm quite worn out!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
The WI does some really interesting things, doesn't it (third out of 40+ is brilliant)? I think you'll enjoy the August meeting, Prezzos has some delicious options and I have heard the atmosphere at the Mamma Mia film is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're not too worn out and can R&R today. xxx
Good that you decided to go on the outing,one thing I learnt when I was widowed when my first husband died was to never refuse an invitation even if it was not something that I particularly liked. Most of the time I ended up enjoying myself and I was one less thing my children had to worry about. I think you are doing very well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Pam - the first time I ever had to live alone (post divorce, not widowed) I had a policy for the first six months of saying 'yes' to every invitation. By the end of the year I had done a lot of things, I had a good idea of what I didn't want to do but I'd also had some good times. It was quite a relief after that to say 'no thank you' to a few things! I hope you enjoy the film, I saw it last week and although I'm not the biggest Abba fan, I really enjoyed it. It's quite emotional but (of course) with a happy ending. Tip: stay to the very end of the credits!
ReplyDeleteI’m going with 3 other women from my craft group this afternoon to see Mamma Mia. We’re just looking forward to enjoying the music and probably having a weep and a laugh. It’s thankfully still raining here so it will be a nice way to spend the afternoon. Enjoy your outing and your meal.
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment yesterday on cooking for one.
ReplyDeleteI still quite often make dishes that I would have made for Bill and I, and, because he had a bigger appetite, I divide it into three, one to eat there and then. Then, I either freeze two portions or freeze one and put the other one in the fridge for next day, if I can face the same thing two days in a row.
We are very lucky here - along the road there is a 'proper' old fashioned greengrocer's, and they are happy to sell me things like half a cabbage. So useful, and avoids the dilemma of "Do I throw this limp object in a soup, or do I waste it?"
Also, by shopping there, I bring fewer of the dreaded plastic bags home!
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ReplyDeleteI am sure you will enjoy Mamma Mia. I cannot see there is anything not to enjoy about it and it is fun, even if some bits are corny, the film gets away with it and is the better for it. I loved it and cried a lot. But then I am always crying in films at the moment, better than crying at home I suppose. Films seem to be a safety valve although I am always on my own in the cinema so I can have a good cry. Perhaps being with a group might be different. Take a hankie just in case, and enjoy. x
ReplyDeleteGood that you are going places even when it might not be your first choice. Haven't seen the movie, but from all the reviews I've read (in US and UK) it would seem it is just a good time. With all the bad news hanging about, a bit of light relief in the form of a musical movie is no bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI periodically watch my very young grandchildren and it thoroughly wears me out--as you say, perpetual motion. Proves there is a reason to have children when you are young!
I quite enjoyed Mama Mia first time around as we watched it with our three daughters, so I am sure it will be lots of fun in a group.
ReplyDeleteYou'll have great fun at Mamma Mia with a group of girls. Our cinema was full of groups all having a great time. We both enjoyed it, and I think I'll be going back for a second solo viewing one rainy afternoon ☺ I've learnt to love going to the cinema on my own. Prezzo is also one of our favourite places to eat, hopefully soon the one promised for Llandudno will be built.
ReplyDeleteCant wait for Mamma Mia 2 to come out on dvd. Loved the first. One full day with the 3 grandsons and I am totally wiped out. I managed 4 kids, all under 5 at one time. I do not remember how bad/good it can be - usually all within an hour. Or even shorter......
ReplyDeleteNo one can accuse you of being a slouch, that's a well filled social calendar. I heard Cher, on the radio, (middle of the night, when I couldn't sleep) singing 'Fernando' and quite enjoyed it. It is a shame that the Herbal Medicine talk wasn't a tad more interesting - perhaps he is better with plants, than with giving talks.
ReplyDeleteI actually liked ABBA, back in the day, but I have to say that I did NOT like the Mamma Mia movie. Just didn't do it for me, which is weird because I love, love, love me some musicals. But not this one. Thought it was awful. But that is OK. Just because I didn't like it, I am glad Col did :)
ReplyDeleteDawn P. d/b/a GADawn57
Ha,ha,ha, Glad I'm not the only one worn out had son son no.2 and grandsons this weekend and was glad to lie flat out on the edges Sunday afternoon. Pleased with the rain at weekend garden looking a little sad. Next weekend is a weekend for me to work in my sewing room fingers crossed. Col had good taste. I have a date night with DJP on Thur to see mama Mama Mia 2. Can remember the last time...
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, I just want to say thank you for your support, and I find you very inspiring. Thanks so much x
ReplyDeleteI just want to warn you about Mamma Mia as I went to see it this efternoon - I'm a big ABBA fan and I loved the first film. I loved this one too, but I cried all the way through it. The characters spend the whole film reacting to and dealing with the death of a character which happens a year before the film is set and that coloured the tone of the film. Forewarned is forearmed.
ReplyDeleteI went to give a talk to a local WI once and they asked me to judge the biscuits - I was terrified! I went to another the following month and they said, "We're not one of those WIs which does home baking," and promptly opened a packet of digestive biscuits, put them on a plate and passed the plate round the room. There were about 40 people there so the biscuits had run out before they reached me. I was a bit stunned! x