Talk and slides on Madagascar

If like me, you knew very little about the island of Madagascar, apart from the fact that it was an island off the east coast of Africa, then John Henson's talk with slides about the holiday he took with his wife Maureen, was a real eye-opener.

They went with Saga Holidays and there were 17 in the group.  The island is twice the size G.B.  They only covered the lower part of the island and it involved 15 days of continuous travel.  The French originally owned the Island and when they left, they took almost everything of value - the people are still very bitter about this. The population is extremely poor and their diet consists mainly of rice three times a day.  Natural resources are emeralds, vanilla and cinnamon but the emeralds seem to disappear as soon as they are mined (black market).  The area is guarded by gentlemen with kalashnikovs and photography of these mines was forbidden!

There were no shops where they travelled, just makeshift stalls and fruit on sheets on the ground and everybody walked - only in the big towns were there a few cars. 

John said they had gone in the wet season so the temperature was very humid.  In spite of the fact that the island was so poor, all the hotels were excellent.  Beggars were a problem but they were asked to bring small gifts with them and Maureen had bought a football from England and the kids went wild when she gave it to a group of youngsters.  John said they did not see any old people but with a life expectancy of 48 years, perhaps that's not surprising.

There are no large animals except for Zebu (horned cattle) and John said they tasted like beef.  Lemurs are the most prolific animals (about 36 varieties).  Their plaintiff calls constantly echoed through the trees and bushes).  Having seen some of them in nature programmes and Banham Zoo, I think they are the most delightful creatures.  Plenty of creepy crawlies, butterflies and flowers abounded in the dense vegetation.  They visited a tea factory which was very interesting.  The men seemed to be mostly recycling metal to make into cooking pots - but they wear no footwear when they are heating the metal up!  The women mainly weave scarfs etc.  John and Maureen showed us some fascinating items they had brought back..Altogether a very memorable holiday although travelling time of 24 hours to reach the Island  was a little tiring.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 10 April at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Mrs Pat Alker will be coming and giving a talk about the Tribes of Southern Ethiopia - another chance to find out about another part of the world.

As usual, visitors are always welcome and if there are queries, please contact Veronica Brett, President on 01508 493029 or Lesley Sanders on 01508 492155.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Hope most people have escaped falls in the recent terrible weather and kept warm.

 I will report on John Henson's talk and slides about the island of Madagascar next month.

 Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 13 March at 7.30pm when Gerry Burns and Jo Hutchings from Norfolk Police come and give a presentation about Local Crime Community Sentences - should be interesting.  Hopefully they will also give us tips on how to discourage unwelcome visitors.

As usual, visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Veronica Brett, President on  01508 493029 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on  01508 492155.

 We also have our own blog which is very interesting: 

Shirley Shackshaft

Pearls

We had a very enjoyable meeting in January when Maria Pennington came and gave us a very informative talk on Pearls.

Maria said that a Pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shell, like the shell a pearl it is made up of calcium. The ideal Pearl is round and smooth but many other shapes of pearls occur. A "natural pearl" or "wild pearl".is one that form without any human intervention at all. There are also Freshwater and saltwater pearls, may sometimes look similar but they come from different sources like lakes and rivers. the shells from the Oysters are usually grind up and made into Mother of Pearl Handles.

In addition Freshwater Pearls can be dyed most colours so you have to be very careful and look for a metallic mirror-like luster to get the best coloured pearl. 

Maria also said these days most pearls come from "pearl farming"  This limits the number of pearls at a harvest period as usually only one is grown at a time. We were also told that Mikimoto did not discover the process of pearl culture this was a British Biologist William Saville Kent in Australia. Once a year buyers travel from all over the world to buy their pearls from Hong Kong this is done by threading them on "hanks". There were several lovely necklaces on display ranging from £25:00 to £20 thousand and upwards.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 13 February at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when John Henson  will be coming  to show us a selection of Slides and Photography of Madagascar.  Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Veronica Brett, President on1508 493029 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on   01508 492155

Pam Cooper

2013 Planned Events

February 23rd    •   Jumble Sale

March 26th        •  NFA Meeting @ St. Andrews Hall, Norwich
April 9th              •  Waveney Group Meeting @ Langley.

June 1st             •  National AGM Cardiff.

August             •  Garden Party TBA              

Oct 2nd              • Waveney Group Meeting Poringland

Oct                   • Federation Autumn Meeting TBA
Oct                     •   Jumble Sale

Coffee morning at Royal Oak on the last Wednesday of the Month @ 11.00am. 

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We had a very enjoyable meeting in December.  We invited several other Institutes to join us and we had a lovely buffet followed by a funny mini panto starring some of our members.  This was followed by singing some carols.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 13 February at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when John Henson will be coming and giving a talk with slides on Madagascar.  If, like me, you had heard of the Island but didn't know where it was  situated, on looking up the Internet, it is situated in the Indian Ocean, near Mozambique and is the 4th biggest island in the world with a very diverse climate.  Should be a fascinating evening.

JUMBLE SALE   23 February

Our next Jumble Sale is on Saturday 23 February from 10.30am to 12.30 pm in the Community Centre.  There will be the usual stalls, including books, tombola and coffee/tea and scones/cakes in the cafe. Come early as by 12.30 most of the good items had been snapped up.  See you there!

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Veronica Brett, President on 01508 493029 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.

Shirley Shackshaft

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We had an enjoyable Annual meeting when we talked about our last year's meetings.  We then had an election for President  as Pam wanted a well earned rest.   Veronica Brett was elected as our new President.  This was followed by a quiz and time to chat over refreshments.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 9 January at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Mrs Marie Pennington will  be talking about Pearls.  There will also be an exhibition of pearls belonging to our members. 

Make a note in your diaries that our next Jumble Sale will be on Saturday 23 February in the Community Centre in the morning.  More details next month.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Veronica Brett, President on 01508 493029 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Malcolm Metcalfe came to our October meeting when he gave us a talk with slides entitled  "Riding the Iron Horse across America". 

He said he had travelled 175,000 miles over a period of 20 years by Amtrak, the American rail system and Greyhound buses.  It used to cost £250 for a month's unlimited travel.  He said it's too expensive now at £400 plus insurance.

He told us it had all started during the war when he made friends with an 8th Air Force B24 American bomber crew member based at Attlebridge.  They kept in contact for a while after the war and many years later he decided to try and find him.  Unfortunately, his friend had died before he made contact.

This started his interest in America and each year he would plan his itinerary and visit all the places on his list. Atlanta, Washington, Chicago, Orleans, Jacksonville, the Rocky Mountains, San Francisco to name but a few.  He made many friends over the years and still corresponds with some of them.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 12 December at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when we will have our Christmas Party with a buffet supper and entertainment by our members.  We always enjoy ourselves and have a good laugh!

Visitors are always welcome and if there any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.

Finally, on behalf of our members, may I wish all of you reading this, particularly if you are on your own, a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year. 

Shirley Shackshaft

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PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We had a very enjoyable meeting in September when Francis Mobbs came and gave us a cookery demonstration.  We have seen her before so we knew we were in for a tasty evening.  She started by handing round three trays of delicious canapes she had prepared earlier.  She then proceeded to cook quick and easy to prepare starters, main courses and desserts and giving us a lively commentary at the same time.  She produced approximately a dozen dishes, which were then put in the raffle. We had several visitors from other Institutes who were lucky enough to win some of dishes, suitably wrapped in foil.

At the end of September we decided to hold a morning Jumble Sale in the Community Centre by way of a change and it proved very successful - items just flew off the tables!

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 14 November at 7.30pm in the Community Centre.  This will be our Annual Meeting when we may have changes in our Committee and there will be a competition afterwards.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.

Shirley Shackshaft

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Our August Meeting was a Garden Party held in  Pam and Raymond Lack's beautiful big garden.  It certainly looked a picture with all the gazebos decorated with union jack flags and bunting in honour ot the Queen's Jubilee.

Over 50 ladies and gentlemen were there, most dressed in red, white and blue. We certainly had a lovely afternoon with lots of delicious cakes and scones - the weather could have been kinder but it didn't actually rain, which was a bonus.

Thank you Pam and Raymond for letting us use your garden and to the ladies who worked so hard bringing us such a lovely repast.

Our next meeting is on Wednesday 10 October at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Malcolm Metcalfe will be giving us a slide show called Riding the Iron Horse across America - sounds very interesting.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on  01508 492155 

Shirley Shackshaft

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

We learned a lot about royal wedding dresses when Jean Smith came and gave an illustrated talk on the dresses worn starting with Queen Victoria to Catherine.

Queen Victoria was married in the Royal Chapel and she wore an off the shoulder cream dress with Honiton lace with a Spitafields silk veil and orange blossom head-dress.  The lace panel down her skirt featured on several dresses she wore subsequently. 

Princess Alexandra of Denmark wore an off the shoulder dress with a tiered skirt with orange blossom on each of the layers when she married Bertie, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. in 1863.  She was given a Norwich Shawl made in  Danish colours.

Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, was engaged to Prince Albert, who unfortunately died and so eventually she married his brother Prince George in 1893.  Her dress featured flowers from waist to hem.  Some of you will remember the high toque hats she always wore in later life.

In 1923 Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert. Her dress was quite different being on medieval lines.  It was short sleeved with beading on the bodice and a single layer down the skirt - very strking.

Princess Elizabeth had a Dior/Hartness design when she married Prince Philip  in November 1947.  It was a heavily embroidered affair with 10,000 pearls, long sleeves and a sweeheart neckline - I wonder how many hours they took to stitch on! 

We were then shown all the royals wedding dresses after that period. up to and including Catherine last year. 

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 12 September at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Frances Mobbs will be coming once again to give us a cookery demonstration - she always produces some delightful food.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155.

Restoring of 2 milestones.

As part of the Jubilee year and the Milestone Society trying to restore 100 milestones and the society hoping to publish a book and send to the Queen, Poringland WI decided to help out and adopt 2 milestones in our area, the one on the Bungay Road and the one near the bus shelter at the Royal Oak.
However the restoration of these stone were going to cost far more then we had allowed for, therefore we were very pleased when the Parish Council agreed to fund one and the Five plus Magazine agreed to fund the other milestone, leaving the WI to do the cleaning and painting of the stones, plus turfing around the Bungay Road stone' 
    
Below is a photo of the milestone on the Bungay Road  being put back into place after its sojourn in the farmyard where the stone mason has recut the lettering.  Thanks to Mr Kittle of Hope Farm, and Nigel of the Milestone Society, who did the actual moving. The second photo is some of our members who watched it being put back into the ground.

Over the year, the ground around the milestone had been building up, so the milestone has been put back to its original depth and is now more visible.

Visit to Peter Beales Rose Garde.

Many of our members visited Peter Beales Rose Garden with afternoon tea provided, the event was organized by Joan.

Poringland WI

Our June meeting proved to be a great success when Isabel Brett gave a talk and demonstration of the Samba, an old Brazilian style of dance with many variations.

She was accompanied by 8 musician's and 2 dancers Miranda Capunter and April Salmon.wearing very colourful traditional dance dresses and it was a very spectacular event.

This summer marks the 12th anniversary of the founding of Norwich Samba who can be seen playing an infectious mix of Brazilian rhythms and modern British beats at events across East Anglia and beyond, It also has its own dancers who have original routines to match the intricate patterns of the rhythms. The band and dancers rehearse once a week on Tuesday 7pm - throughout the year at the John Innes Centre (Recreation Centre), Norwich. Look for us as the Olympic Torch comes to Norwich  4^th July & The Lord Mayors Procession 7^th July.

Any one 15yrs+ can join in please take a look at our Website: www.norwichsamba.org or Email:info@norwichsamba.org 
A date to put in your diaries is our Garden Party on Wednesday 15th August at 2.00pm entrance fee £2:00. This year it will be in the garden of  Pam Lack  Hillcreast,  Bungay Road, Poringland. Pam has a lovely garden and there will be the usual bring and buy and raffle stalls plus, of course, tea. scones and lovely cakes to enjoy. As this year has been the Queens Jubilee we thought we would carry the colour theme into the garden party and we are hopeful that many members and friends will come dressed in red/white and blue.   All members and friends are welcome.

Visitors are always welcome to our meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month held at the Community Centre, behind Budgens. If there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on 01508 491674 or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492156.

Several of our members visited the Guildhall in April where Mr Nick Williams a past Sheriff of Norwich gave us a conducted tour.

Norwich Guildhall was the centre of city government from the early 15^th century until its replacement by City Hall in 1938.The exterior provides an excellent example of the flint work that the city is so famous for. The east end of the building was reconstructed in the 16^th century and is crafted from alternate squares of faced flint and ashlar stone, giving the building its chequered effect.

As well as various courts, a prison and a chapel the building contained facilities for accounting and tax collection, accommodation for civic officials (it remains the home of the Sheriff's parlour today) and storage space for records, money and civic regalia.  The Assembly Chamber (or Sheriff's Court) was designed for meetings of the full medieval Council. It now contains a virtually intact late Victorian courtroom. Also known as the 'Sword Room', the roof space was once the storage place of weapons.

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The Council Chamber (or Mayor's Court) is more elaborate. Oak panelling, a sixteen-bay roof with tie-beams, renaissance decorative woodwork and stunning stained glass were from the start designed to impress.  The undercroft, beneath the east end pre-dates the building, and is thought to be an original feature of the earlier toll-house on this site. It was used to accommodate more dangerous criminals.

PORINGLAND WOMEN'S INSTITUTE

Delia Perry one of our members gave us a fascinating talk about her Housekeeping in a War Zone. 

Delia served for 14 years and reached the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 - Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant.

She had just started her tour of duty in Germany, when she was told to report back to England and then sent to Iraq where she was the only women in the camp.

Iraq invaded Iran over ownership of a waterway on the border of these two countries and borrowed monies from Kuwait. As a result of poor returns on the price of oil, they could not repay Kuwait so they found an excuse to declare war. 

By 1990 Iraq was in real financial trouble and as an excuse for non-payment they accused Kuwait of overproducing their own oil and stealing their oil so declared war on Kuwait.

The Saudis did not see this war coming, they wanted help but did not want Westerners "camping out" in a strictly Muslim country so called upon troops from the world to assist, so spearheaded by the USA each country gave support to Kuwaits cause and Operation Desert Storm commenced. 

Delia's story's about her personal time under canvas shared with many troops was very comical, she had also brought along some items to demonstrate toilet facilities, eating equipment etc. At the end of the talk Delia's medals were passed to all members to look at.  

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 11th July at 7.30pm in the Community Centre when Jane Smith gives her talk on Royal Wedding.

Visitors are always welcome and if there are any queries, please contact Pam Cooper, President on01508491674  or Lesley Sanders, Secretary on 01508 492155             .