What a lovely day we had for our April walk around Seething.  Believe it or not this picture is of a pond, not a bowling green!  There are several pretty ponds in the village, the church is worth a visit and there are a number of old cottages to admire, including one with a fire insurance plaque and one with ‘ammonites’ set into the wall.  It still has a post office cum store but the petrol pumps are museum exhibits.  Fancy a walk around? – plenty of parking at the village hall, and a community café is open on third Wednesday afternoons.

It was just as lovely at Surlingham in May (8 walkers, 12 for lunch) but I forgot to take any pictures!

 

Coming up this month:

10 Pin Bowling sessions Namco Bowthorpe.  10am on Friday 13 & 27 June.

The next Tea/coffee pm at the Nook Tuesday 14 June & 8 July                     

Next Walk: Tuesday 17 June.  Meet at 11am. At the Goat Shed, Colton Road, HoninghamNR9 5DJ .   Lunch at 1pm.  Sign Board for walk and/or lunch. Or phone Lesley 492155 to book or cancel.

Craft Fair Saturday 5th July at Brooke House.  We hope to have a stall as we have several boxes of items to sell.  Helpers needed to take boxes/set up table/ serve on the stall.

Craft Afternoon Monday 14 July @ 2.30pm (Second Monday of month) at Joan’s, 74 Poringland road Stoke HX.  If you would like to come along to craft and chat, please contact Joan on 493036.  

Scrabble day Thursday possibly 3 July at the Feathers 11.30 – 3.30pm.  Please sign up on board or inform Liz on 558132.

Gym Sessions. At the ‘Gym Group’ (next to Asda on Hall road).  Currently we have an hour longsession each Wednesday morning at about 9am.  

If you’re new and fancy any of these, talk to Lesley or the named member.

Other local events you may like to attend:

More gardens to visit that are open for Charity in the National Open Garden Scheme:

2 in lower Stoke on 14/15 June – 47 & 51 Norwich road.  £6. Home made teas at no 47.

On Sunday 22nd June there are 3 Eaton gardens open £7 – 19 Branksome road (homemade teas) plus 4 Coach House Court and 15 Waverley road.  More details on the board.

Sunday 29th.  The Almonds 21 Southgreen Mattishall NR20 7JT.  £5. Over an acre of garden: orchard, borders, sculptures.  Refreshments available

Sunday July 6th, Bishops Garden.  £5 plus refreshments in aid of Priscilla Bacon Hospice.

More information about these is on the Board.

Quiz night at the Nook.  Friday 20 June 7pm.  Teams of 6 – 8.  £5 per person in aid of EACH.  Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Contact janehewer@hotmail.com or phone 07740734123

Federation Events

Gliding Days.  Tibenham Airfield Friday 29 August with fall back date 12 September as flight is weather dependent.  Winch launch £70 or Aero tow £144.  You are welcome to come along for a picnic (£10) to watch me and the others taking flight.

Summer Garden Party at Wiveton Hall NR25 7TE.  Tuesday 17 June. 2-6pm £40. Includes afternoon tea and tour of the gardens with Desmond, famed for the programme ‘Normal for Norfolk’ that featured the hall.  Glass of wine £3 extra.  Too late fully booked.

Get Comfortable on Line. Thursday 17 July 10.30- 12.30.  Bring along your ipad, laptop tablet etc and your questions.  £7.50

THIS IS A NEW ONE!  Adventure weekend – Bunk up or camp out! At Bramley Lakes Horsford 30 – 31 August.  Overnight stay, light lunch evening meal & breakfast.  Five activities: Canoeing, abseiling, axe throwing and zip line.

Saville Gardens and Runnymede Boat trip.  Wed 3 September £75.  Am Garden visit (part of Windsor Great park) PM 2 hour cruise including Cream Tea.

Bridge Day Wed 17 Sept 10am to 3.30pm at our House £22 includes lunch of cottage pie (veg option) and pudding.

Puddings, Plonk and Pop Wednesday 24 September 7-9pm @ Hethersett Hub NR9 3EN £25.  Try any number of delicious desserts washed down with a summer fruit punch whilst singing or dancing to Simon Howard with classic tracks across the decades.

CRAFT DAY at Horsford Cricket club NR10 3AQ Friday 26 Sept 10 – 3.30pm.  Doors open 9.30 for tea/coffee.  £32 includes materials and ploughman’s lunch (and pudding).  Choose from the following crafts:  No Sew patchwork baubles, Embellished Canvas Work, Autumn Wreaths or a selection of cards using different techniques.

There are 2 competitions to enter (on top of the 100 villages one):  Design a Christmas card and Decorate an Apron.  SEE BOARD FOR DETAILS of these and all Events.  Application forms available from Lesley or in your magazine.

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Newhaven Court

This is the house by Cromer Town,

The bricks are red, though they look so brown

It faces the sea on a windswept hill

In winter it’s empty in summer its chill

Indeed, it is one of earth’s windiest spots

As we know from the smashing of chimney pots

In August I ask for another quilt

This is the house that Jane my wife built

(Frederick Locker-Lampson)

Hear all about this house at our July meeting – visited by the rich, famous and maybe notorious?

Poringland WI Newsletter May 2025

 Poringland WI Newsletter May 2025

10 Pin Bowling sessions Namco Bowthorpe.  10am on Friday 9 & 23 May.

The next Tea/coffee pm at the Nook Tuesday 13 & 27 May                     

Next Walk: Tuesday 20 May.  Meet at 11am. At the Ferry House Surlingham NR14 7AR  Lunch at 1pm.  Sign Board for walk and/or lunch. Or phone me 492155 to book or cancel.

Craft Afternoon Monday 12 May @ 2.30pm (Second Monday of month) at Joan’s, 74 Poringland road Stoke HX.  If you would like to come along to craft and chat, please contact Joan on 493036. 

Scrabble day Thursday possibly 29 May at the Feathers 11.30 – 3.30pm.  Please sign up on board or inform Liz on 558132.

Gym Sessions.  At the ‘Gym Group’ (next to Asda on Hall road).  Currently we have an hour long session each Wednesday morning at about 9am. 

If you’re new and fancy any of these, talk to Lesley or the named member.

Other local events you may like to attend:

Poringland Community Cinema at Poringland Community Centre

 FRIDAY 9th May ‘Wicked’   Fantasy/Musical

Tickets £5 on the door (includes tea or coffee)

Doors open at 6.45pm, Film starts 7.30pm

Ditchingham WI invite you to their meeting on Wednesday 14 May at 2pm to hear

Jane Bishop on La Belle Epoque (talk no 2) a Musical history of the Folie Bergere and the

 Moulin Rouge.  £5. Includes refreshments.

Thurton & Ashby WI invite you to their Summer Extravaganza on Thursday June 5 in their Village hall 7pm.  Entertainment by ‘Fine City Chorus’.  Entry £5 includes Buffet, strawberries & Pimms or tea/coffee. 

Who doesn’t like looking around other people’s gardens?

Why not visit Topcroft Open Gardens on Sun 25 & Mon 26 MAY 11-5pm.  £5 entry including map.  Stunning private gardens to view, free parking and vintage bus transport.  Plant stalls.  Proceeds to St Margaret church funds.

Several other local gardens are open for Charity in the National Open Garden Scheme:

On Sunday 18 May. 3 gardens on Bracondale (bus or park at County hall) 14 Conesford Drive,     1 Woodside Cottages and Southgate House (where teas are available) £9 for all 3.  Southgate house is the former Harbour Masters house, there’s a mystery for you.

3 gardens in Stoke are open in June.  Ferndale at 14 Poringland road on Sunday 8th and 2 in lower Stoke on 14/15 June – more details next month.  Or see the notice board.

Concert, St Peter’s Church Brooke Saturday 7 June 7pm with the East of England Coop Band.  Reserve your Tickets from 01508 558324.

Quiz night at the Nook.  Friday 20 June 7pm.  Teams of 6 – 8.  £5 per person in aid of EACH.  Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Contact janehewer@hotmail.com or phone 07740734123

Big Summer Fair.  Mulberry Green (behind Com Centre).  Saturday 21 June 12 – 6pm.  Food and drink, fairground, kids’ activities and bouncy castle.  Stalls and dance displays etc etc.

Federation Events

Gliding Days.  Tibenham Airfield Friday  29 August with fall back date 12 September as flight is weather dependent.  Winch launch £70 or Aero tow £144.  You are welcome to come along for a picnic (£10) to watch me and the others taking flight.

Cley Marshes Guided Walk Tuesday 10 June 10.30 – 1pm.  £6 NWT members, £8 Non members.

Take a Photo Safari around Norwich on Saturday 14 June 10am – 23.30pm starting at the House, £8.  Refreshments available at the end of the walk.

Summer Garden Party at Wiveton Hall NR25 7TE.  Tuesday 17 June.  2-6pm £40. Includes afternoon tea and tour of the gardens with Desmond, famed for the programme ‘Normal for Norfolk’ that featured the hall.  Glass of wine £3 extra.

Food Museum Stowmarket visit – 9 July £30. From cheese making to brewing, historic breads to seasonal eating.  Heritage food to disgusting food from around the world. 34 acres with displays demonstrations etc.

Get Comfortable on Line. Thursday 17 July 10.30- 12.30.  Bring along your ipad, laptop tablet etc and your questions.  £7.50

‘Just add Water’ – beginners watercolour workshop in Evelyn Suffield House.  Friday 18 July 10 – 3.30pm £30 including materials.

THIS IS A NEW ONE!  Adventure weekend – Bunk up or camp out! At Bramley Lakes Horsford 30 – 31 August.  Overnight stay, light lunch evening meal & breakfast.  Five activities: Canoeing, abseiling, axe throwing and zip line.

CRAFT DAY at Horsford Cricket club NR10 3AQ Friday 26 Sept 10 – 3.30pm.  Doors open 9.30 for tea/coffee.  £32 includes materials and ploughman’s lunch (and pudding).  Choose from the following crafts:  No Sew patchwork baubles, Embellished Canvas Work, Autumn Wreaths or a selection of cards using different techniques.

There are 2 competitions to enter (on top of the 100 villages one):  Design a Christmas card and Decorate an Apron.  SEE BOARD FOR DETAILS of these and all Events.  Application forms available from Lesley or in your magazine.

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Why is it so?

Why do we fuss and fret and fume, When there are trees? Work ceaseless to late afternoon, When there are bees, Who, with such steady skill and pace, Make honey, perfect to our taste?

Why do we lie awake at night. When small stars peep, Shining with gently twinkling light, To guard our sleep? Why toss so restless on our bed, When all of heaven is overhead?

 

Why do we fret, and Fume and fuss,

When poppies grow Scarlet in cornfields, near to us,

And West winds blow Breezes that ruffle up my hair,

And prove that God is everywhere?

Poringland WI Newsletter April 2025.

7 members enjoyed our walk around Tasburgh in March.  We ended at the Church where these embroidered banners were hanging either side the Chancel Arch.  This time we did not get caught in the rain and one group took a leisurely stroll round the village while the speedy mob added a visit across the A140 to a well hidden farm shop, where I purchased some free range eggs.  From the local ‘History of Tasburgh’ booklet we learnt that it is a very ancient village built around a hill fort and where flint tools and Saxon, Norman and Roman artifacts have been unearthed.  The Roman road from Colchester to Venta Icenorum passes by beneath what is now the A140.  Finally 10 members enjoyed a late lunch at the Foundry Plant Centre. This month’s activities

10 Pin Bowling sessions Namco Bowthorpe.  10am on Friday 25 April and 9 May.

The next Tea/coffee pm at the Nook Tuesday 15th and 29th April

Next Walk: Tuesday 22 April.  This is day after Easter Monday.  Meet at Seething Village Hall NR15 1EJ at 11am.  Lunch at 1pm at Old Hall Farm, Woodton NR35 2LP.  Please put your name on the board for walk and/or lunch only. Or phone me 492155 to book or cancel.

Craft Afternoon Monday 14th April @ 2.30pm (Second Monday of month) at Joan’s, 74 Poringland road Stoke HX.  If you would like to come along to craft and chat, please contact Joan on 493036. 

Scrabble day Thursday possibly 29 May at the Feathers 11.30 – 3.30pm.  Please sign up on board or inform Liz on 558132.

Gym Sessions.  At the ‘Gym Group’ (next to Asda on Hall road).  Currently we have an hour long session each Wednesday morning from about 9am. 

If you’re new and fancy any of these, talk to Lesley or the named member.

Other local events you may like to attend:

Poringland Community Cinema at Poringland Community Centre

Conclave FRIDAY 11th APRIL

Cert 12A Drama Thriller

Stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci

Tickets £5 on the door (includes tea or coffee)

Doors open at 6.45pm, Film starts 7.30pm

Muffins and More.  Wednesday 7 May at the EACH Charity Shop from 9am till mid afternoon.  Try their tasty bakes – all in aid of EACH.  Cake donations welcome.

Ditchingham WI invite you to a meeting on Wednesday 14 May at 2pm to hear Jane Bishop on La Belle Epoque (talk no 2) a Musical history of the Folie Bergere and the Moulin Rouge.  £5. Includes refreshments.

Quiz night at the Nook.  Friday 20 June 7pm.  Teams of 6 – 8.  £5 per person in aid of EACH.  Bring your own drinks and nibbles. Contact janehewer@hotmail.com or phone 07740734123

Brass Band Concert, St Peter’s Church Brooke Saturday 7 June – more details to follow.

Loddon  Society are holding their Annual Show on 6 September.  I have Schedule available.

Federation Events

QuIz with tea, scones and cake 1.30pm Friday 11 April NCC Manor Park Horsford NR10 3AQ.  Teams of up to 6 - members only £10pp.

Paul Martin (Flog it) will be at the Princess Theatre Hunstanton on Sunday 11 May 3pm and will select 30 items taken in by members of the Audience, to talk about.  Cost £20

Gliding Days.  Tibenham Airfield Friday 16 May and 29 August with fall back dates of 23 May or 12 September as flight is weather dependent.  Winch launch £70 or Aero tow £144.

Cley Marshes Guided Walk Tuesday 10 June 10.30 – 1pm.  £6 NWT members £8 Non members.

Take a Photo Safari around Norwich on Saturday 14 June 10am – 23.30pm starting at the House, £8.  Refreshments available at the end of the walk.

Summer Garden Party at Wiveton Hall NR25 7TE.  Tuesday 17 June.  2-6pm £40. Includes afternoon tea and tour of the gardens with Desmond, famed for the programme ‘Normal for Norfolk’ that featured the hall.  Glass of wine £3 extra.

Food Museum Stowmarket visit – 9 July £30. From cheese making to brewing, historic breads to seasonal eating.  Heritage food to disgusting food from around the world. 34 acres with displays demonstrations etc.

Get Comfortable on Line. Thursday 17 July 10.30- 12.30.  Bring along your ipad, laptop tablet etc and your questions.  £7.50

‘Just add Water’ – beginners watercolour workshop in Evelyn Suffield House.  Friday 18 July 10 – 3.30pm £30 including materials

SEE BOARD FOR DETAILS of all Events.  Application forms available from Lesley or in your magazine.

Screening of the National AGM will be held in the Theatre Royal on Wed 4 June.  Observer tickets to attend are £8.  Or alternatively watch in the comfort of your own home £5 (price set by National).  More details to follow.

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I was going to quote some little words of wisdom that pop up on Facebook from time to time among the rubbish and misinformation.  But this is the time to forget the trumped up or depressing news and

 

Remember to Celebrate St George’s Day on 23rd April.  Be patriotic, fly the flag, wear red and white, sing Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, Do you ken John Peel.  Whatever!  

Don’t let the PC lot grind you down!  It’s not unPC to remember England DOES Exist. 

Or recite a patriotic poem like this by Robert Browning:

 

O to be in England now that April’s Here,

And whoever wakes in England, Sees some morning, unaware,

That the lowest boughs of the brushwood sheaf

Round the elm-tree bole are in tiny leaf,

While the chaffinch sings on the orchard bough

In England – Now!