Associated Country Women of the World

A Christmas message from World President Mrs Ruth Shanks A.M.:

I send Christmas Greetings to all those celebrating, and wish you all a happy and peaceful time with family and friends. I hope that 2019 will be a joyous year, and the culmination of a wonderful Triennium for ACWW. As we celebrate our 90th Anniversary, I hope you will all celebrate your connection with out great Association.

Please do not forget that you have until 31 December to take part in the Global Survey of Rural Women at www.ifrw.org.uk, and ensure that the voices of women in your community are heard.

I wish you all well, and look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in the year ahead.

Ruth Shanks A.M.
ACWW World President

Christmas Party

The room was jam packed full of Brixham members, friends and guests from Stoke Gabriel, Galmpton and Paignton WIs. We began with our drama club presentation of some poignant and funny poems and then a study based on a baking masterclass. Then came the important business of the day: tucking in to the marvellous array of delectable food brought along by our members!
There were some very tricky quiz questions to answer and a seasonal raffle.

I was having such a good time that I omitted to take any photos at all! You will just have to come along yourselves next year!

Fortunately, Tina was paying attention and has taken some photos! Thank you!

Here are the pretty lanterns made by Barbara and our craft team for everyone.

Dart Bay Christmas event looks great!

Tina, Sue and Pat went along for a fun packed day, and it looks as if they came home with some great Christmas items. I wonder if we’ll be able to sample the Hungarian Beigli at our Christmas party? They look scrummy!
It was a great day.  The folded decorations needed precision, but once we'd been instructed they were great fun.   The yeasted hungarian treat was fun to make - lots of different components - kneeding rolling chopping shaping.  I finished with the table centre which was a relaxing end to the day and the end result was super.  We had a shared lunch - lots of nice foods and puds.  It was altogether a grand day out and great value.  
Thank you, Tina, for the photos and the report. 

Galmpton and Churston Christmas Party!

It’s  official!
We have been good! Santa came to give everyone a gift at the Christmas Party at Galmpton Institute last night! We had a great time!
Thank you very much to the hard working elves for putting on such a great evening!

Here is a crafty challenge!

Christmas reindeer

What is Christmas without a reindeer or two? Try your hand at the art of paper cutting and folding to create these quick and fun festive characters.

All of the details, including the pattern, is on MyWI 

Christmas Lunch at the Paignton Club

Fabulous food, lots of excellent company and a really great venue!

Tuesday Craft Group

It was a picture of sheer concentration as Brixham WI ladies busied themselves with making and doing this afternoon.  The craft group met up to make hats and Christmas crackers to sell at the Coffee Morning in the Community Rooms opposite the Methodist Church, Brixham on 1st December. 10 am until 12. There will be cakes on sale as well! 

Record of the November Institute Meeting

Despite several apologies, there was an excellent turn-out at our WI Meeting this week, including some potential new members.  We had a couple of displays: the results of our Glass Fusion workshop last week and a wonderfully diverse set of entries for our Kingswear Cup on the theme ‘I must go down to the sea again’.  A knitted sail trawler, an enormousmosaic mirror, a poem and a cake seaside scene entitled ‘fish and chips’ including sponge sand-castles were only a few of the entries.  The winner announced at the end of the meeting was Sparks with her embroidered seascape, 2nd was Mary with a quilt using sea-themed material and 3rd was Tina with an underwater shoal of fish made of lace.

The meeting was preceded by a slide-show and talk by Mark Lawrence about his volunteer work with BTO (British Trust for Ornithology), ringing and counting Devon nesting birds.

After tea, Val led our sitting exercises as usual and we all assured her that we were continuing to do these at home!

Mary welcomed Wendy to the committee to replace Sandy, and she read a note from Sandy which thanked us for our friendship and support.  Other items that Mary mentioned were potential workshops, our Christmas Lunch out next month; the Coffee Morning in the Methodist Community Rooms in Fore Street on 1st Dec, 10 - 12, bring yourself to help, cakes, etc.; and our Christmas Party on 13th Dec (bring a plate). 
Barbara reminded of arrangements for Tuesday’s craft and for the Bath trip next Thursday.

Tina reported on the posies made on world Kindness day, and gave a message from Lilian who received one of the posies. She also asked for members to hang onto bras as there will be a collection in March for African women (via Smalls for All Charity).

The flower competition was won by Kate; 2nd Ellie; 3rd Marilyn.

November Institute Meeting

What a fantastic talk! We learned so much about the nesting birds in our locality! Such an interesting speaker, so very knowledgable and enthusiastic! It was excellent!

Val’s Exercise section is brilliant, too! Fun and fabulous! Thank you Val!

There were lots of absolutely fabulous entries into our Kingswear Cup competition, “I must go down to the sea again”. We said any medium and that is precisely what we got! There were two really cute and clever knitted items, an exquisite mosaic, some really skilled glass fusion, a witty poem, a very imaginative and carefully crafted sea side cake creation, beautiful paintings on silk and canvas, a gorgeous quilt, an embroidery, a very atmospheric piece of artwork using shells, sand and various beach items, a lovely ceramic dolphin, a beautiful card and some very intricately worked, evocative mixed media pictures.
Thank you to each and every one of the members who took part. It made a fabulous display - I’m sure all of the guests who arrived today were very impressed!

World Kindness Day!

Following the NFWI suggestion, we spent the morning making posies from some gorgeous flowers (thank you to Beryl for getting them, and to everyone who brought contributions from their own gardens). Later on each one of us delivered our posies to a neighbour, a friend or a former WI member who is either unwell or lives alone. All of this to celebrate ‘World Kindness Day’. It feels good!

PATH Torbay

Do you remember making that colourful blanket a while back? Here is some information about PATH.

PATH torbay

6 hrs · 

As everyone runs home to shelter from the rain,just think what it must feel like,for homeless,left to live outside,soaking wet with nowhere to go.
Honestly,we treat our wet umbrellas better than the homeless that we pass by.
Tonight PATH took to the streets as usual,but will now offer help in Newton abbot 7 nights a week again,as numbers grow.
We were shocked at how unprepared some of the guys we found tonight were.
One young guy hadn't been able to change socks for a week and his shoes were badly split.
Others were desperate for decent sleeping bags and rucksacks to keep everything dry.
If anyone comes across someone homeless in the Newton abbot area,then please let them know that we will be in the town centre between 9pm and 9.30pm every single night.please ring path helpline on 07763398238 for information of meeting points.
Paignton is covered from 10pm until 10.45pm with meeting point behind vue cinema.
Torquay help starts at 11pm behind new look,town,harvester and pavillion

Paths new building at 87,abbey road is open from 2pm until 10pm every day and weekends for hot food,clothes,signposting and support
but is also manned by volunteers for emergencies from 10pm until 1am
Thankyou to everyone who donates and volunteers precious time and commitment to the vital services path offers.
We couldn't manage without the overwhelming support from our local community

Another lovely craft morning!

The tutor explained the basics and 

then she set us off on our own!

We cut glass and made up our designs ready for them to be heated in the tutor’s kiln.

They should come back to us next week! 

We had to pay close attention!

Dart Bay craft courses

Ask Tina for the Pink Book if you would like to see more.

2018 Events
• Monday 12th November 2018 - Fabric Advent Calendars, 11am - 3.30pm, St Martin's Church Hall, Barton, £25 includes materials and refreshments, bring own packed lunch
• Friday 7th December 2018 - Christmas around the World Dart Bay special, 10am - 4pm, Rattery village hall, £25 includes materials for 3 workshops and refreshments. Bring a shared lunch.



2019 Events
• Friday 25th January 2019 - Papercraft Day, either 10am-1pm or 2-5pm, JAX Studios, £18 includes materials and refreshments
• Thursday 21st February 2019 - Cocktail making masterclass, 7pm start, COCO Cocktail Bar, Torquay. £26.50 includes 3 cocktails, nibbles and tuition.
• Friday 1st March 2019 - Dart Bay Annual Meeting, St Martin's Hall, Barton, 7pm start, FREE event but names required
• Thursday 4th April 2019 - Pottery Workshop, Poppins Studio, St Marychurch, 10am - 4pm, £28 includes materials, firing and refreshments. Own lunch in St Marychurch or bring sandwiches
• Friday 17th May 2019 - Retro Birds Mosaic Workshop - JAX Studios, either 10am-1pm or 2-5pm, £18 includes materials and refreshments
• Wednesday 19th June 2019 - Textured Sterling Silver Ring with setting- Furrough Cross Church, St Marychurch, 1030-1.30pm, £22 includes materials and refreshments

Sunny Days Walkers

It was a beautiful walk to Berry Head this morning, with a short refreshment break at the delectable Guardhouse Café.

We’ll choose a sunny day for the next walk!