Happy New Year to all Members and Friends

 Holding the January meeting of Harlow WI during a very cold spell of weather whilst still observing the Covid avoidance instruction to open windows, was a matter for much discussion by the committee.   However, it was eventually decided to go ahead, despite receiving quite a few advance apologies for absence.  In the event, it proved the right decision, as members flocked in (nearly a dozen more than attended the December meeting), masked and warmly clad.

This was a Social Afternoon when members and visitors are able to catch up with friends and exchange news once the WI business has been concluded.  The only other matter to be dealt with was the selection of one of the five Resolutions put forward for debate at the Annual Meeting in June.  All of the full members present handed in a completed voting form.  (As the February meeting will be quite early in the month, there is another opportunity for members absent in January to record their choice.). 

There was a short General Knowledge quiz (who knew what a collection of jellyfish is called?!), the judging of the competition, and the raffle.  The competition for the prettiest card received this Christmas was won by Pat Stone whose card had a pop-up Christmas tree inside it.  (Apologies for lack of photo - will try to do better next month)

Although we are not permitted to sing our usual Jerusalem and the National Anthem, we still enjoy the tea and (individually wrapped) biscuits which arrive midway through the afternoon, thanks to the good offices of the tea-hosting volunteers.  

At the February meeting on the 9th, the speaker will be Norman Jacobs talking about “Pie, Mash and Prefabs”, and the competition is for an original poem on any theme.  

Final Meeting of the Year

 At the meeting on Wednesday 8 December, we were treated to a performance by the Phoenix Ukulele Band, playing a selection of well-known songs mostly from the 20th century interspersed with Christmas songs to get us in the mood.  The band was very well-received and got huge cheers and lots of arm waving, despite the fact that only twenty WI members had braved the weather and the threat of the new Omicron virus variant to turn up.  It was a most enjoyable afternoon with the added treat of mince pies.

Members will be meeting again on Wednesday 12 January 2022 at 2 pm.  This is to be a social afternoon with a competition (for the prettiest Christmas card you've received this year) and probably a quiz.  There'll also be the usual raffle.  

Current memberships will last until 31st March 2022, so there's no post-Christmas panic to reclaim lost coins from down the back of the sofa in order to pay the subscription.  The new programme card for the year will be available, although some dates may be subject to change, depending on the course of the virus.  We sincerely hope that the New Year will bring a better outlook.

 

We were very sorry to hear of the death of Linda Carter.  Linda was a member of Church Langley WI and a dual member of Harlow for three years.  She will be much missed, and we send our deep sympathy to her family and friends. 

October 2021

 This will be the third month we have held a meeting since February 2020.  So far, things are proceeding cautiously.  We have picked up the tattered remnants of 2020's planned programme and endeavoured to reschedule where possible.  Some talks we will never hear now, but there will be new talks and new speakers.  

We have pruned our extra events for the remainder of this year, leaving only the Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 1 December to cheer us up, although rumour has it that there may be a group outing to the pantomime at the Playhouse.  

The Book Group has managed a few meetings intermittently, but has now been suspended until January 2022 to allow members to catch up on their reading.  

The meeting on Wednesday 13 October is to be a social afternoon with quizzes and games plus the usual tea/coffee, biscuits and cake.

The speaker for the November meeting on the 10th is Sara Harrison whose talk is entitled "Verse & Worse" (Pam Ayres with an Edge).  

The two committee members who work together to select and book speakers well in advance, are beavering away to ensure that 2022 will offer an interesting and varied programme.  The range of topics on offer from WI speakers is astonishingly broad.

We look forward to welcoming as many members back as possible, and hope that we can make steady progress towards achieving a normality where we are comfortable with each other again. 

PLEASE READ

Due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak

all WI meetings and activities are suspended until further notice.