Hello everyone,
Once again we hope that you and your families are keeping well and safe during this stressful time. With the local lockdowns in place, the North West and especially Liverpool being at the highest level come to mind, as do those in level two, London and Essex, Chesterfield and areas in the Midlands, so please keep safe ladies and follow the guidelines.
I don’t know if you have noticed but the TV adverts seem to be getting a bit more optimistic, not a lot, just a little and as such we are following the trend and have booked the October weekend 2021, details will follow as well as all the other events that had to be postponed this year. Also all the competitions that were for this year are remaining so you have plenty of time to do something about it. A reminder will be in the next newsletter
First, an update on the office. On the 30th September Eleanor retired after 23 years working for NAWC we sent her flowers from all of you and hopefully she will join us at conference next year so we can say a proper goodbye, but in the meantime we wish her a long and happy retirement. Jackie started back in the office at the beginning of September, but then unfortunately she fell out of her car and damaged both her wrists and had a minor elbow fracture. Needless to say as a result of that she had to have a few weeks off to recover, but is now back doing what she can, what a trooper. Claire is still working from home but going into the office on a regular basis and Pauline is now also working from home.
As you know the annual subscription this year was £16 per member, we have extended the annual membership by 6 months so it goes up to September 2021. From October 2021 we are only asking for £8 this would carry forward to March 2022 when hopefully we would be able to get back on track. We have received a lot of the memberships already but for those that haven’t paid, please do so when your treasurer asks. We have insured all clubs but remember for your club to be covered by the insurance all members must be fully paid up with their subscriptions. The insurance covers your officers who hold any money at home as well as the usual benefits when you are at club.
It has been a real trying time and many big birthdays have not been celebrated, but knowing our ladies they will be once we are back at club, but on behalf of us all congratulations to:
Parkwood-55th, Coton Green-50th, Roysia-45th, Formby-30th, Libra-15th, Snodland – 5th
We have been asking the clubs what they have been up to since March and here are a few of the replies most clubs have been keeping in touch by telephone but Angela from Waltham Abbey Tuesday Ladies Club says they have a “WhatsApp” group where they post ‘funnies’ and words of encouragement.
Dulcie from Gt Amwell has been sending out a weekly newsletter containing news and jokes but also making their members aware of scams that are going on.
Norfolk Club goes on a 11 mile walk to get the newsletters around from Head Office. Thanks defintly go to Janet and her daughter for this.
Jo from Snodland Club says they have kept in touch by doing shopping etc. for those shielding or just needing a chat. The lovely weather meant they could meet in the field by the Community centre which was very successful. The committee are each making up a small hamper and will draw the names out of a hat so 6 lucky winners here also each member will receive a small gift.
Janice at Bocking Belles have kept in touch via a specially set up email group and once summer was here were able to meet outside, socially distanced of course, again like so many of our clubs they were hoping to be back by now but this has been delayed and they are waiting to see what the rest of October brings but fearing the worst may have to postpone again.
Jackie Standish reports from Bowring Park that she ‘phones and keeps in touch with members.
Janice Bayliss from Women of Westhaughton (WOW) and Haydock says “WOW’S members are on WhatsApp or Messenger (or both) where we’ve set up a group who regularly communicate, sending round the numerous ‘funnies’ which appear on social media, also sending birthday greetings or get well wishes. WOW has also held Committee meetings via Zoom.
Fewer Haydock Club members have access to social media although some do have email. Smaller groups of friends do keep in contact, though sadly can’t meet up due to the local restrictions. I have regular phone contact with the Chairman and Secretary.
The North West Team has sent out regular Newsletters to all club secretaries by email or by post with latest updates (not much to say lately) and a personal message from Pat”.
Jennie and Andee from Leaside, have been very busy since March keeping their members informed, Andee said. “Each month we try to think of something for them to do, thus keeping them busy. The first month of lockdown, I asked my son to make me some handmade soaps which he cut up, I made little bags and then we delivered them to each of our members. The following month we gave them the craft night project which we would have done at club. They really enjoyed it, albeit they were doing it on their own. We still have not received all the photos yet. It was to decoupage a jam jar. September we gave them all a quiz and last week went round and delivered prizes to all of them for taking part. I am now doing another quiz for them for November and we will go round early Dec with prizes for them all. They have the choice to do them on their own, or get help from family or another club member. We try to visit all of them at least once a month just to make sure they are all ok and to cheer them all up. Jen and I are now working on another craft night that they can all do at home. Hopefully this will give you an idea of how we are keeping our members spirits up in this difficult time”.
Jennifer Savage from Buckland says that “myself, the treasurer, and chair all ring members as often as we can especially those who live alone or have limited support for whatever reason.
The home phone is the only method to contact members as only a minority have mobiles or access to a computer. We also put a notice in the Community magazine Chessington Chat each month, this is delivered to most homes in the area and just keeps our organisation out there with contact details. Some members also keep in touch with one another as they have been friends for umpteen years some as many as 60 years and have been at the club since it started.
We have had four 90th birthdays this year so far and three more before Christmas, we had planned parties etc. which are now on hold of course.
It was simpler when outdoor meetings of 6 people were possible but the weather now is against that happening very often. We also do not know if and when the rules may change, it is the uncertainty and the fact nobody can make plans anymore that can be unsettling to say the least.
Rye Park kept in touch by coffee mornings and afternoon teas. Sheila, the Chairman, has been making jams, chutneys and soups and also cakes all to raise money for the club’s chosen charity. The cakes were delivered so she has kept the members fed. The ladies have also been knitting squares to be made into blankets, these squares were going to be sewn together on the first night back at club but that didn’t happen so it is now a ‘homework’ project. There is also a weekly update via email.
Maggie from Coton Green writes it has been an awful time for all of us and all our ladies are certainly missing club. The centre is still closed so we are hoping to reconvene in the New Year. I have been sending a newsletter out every couple of months to the ladies telling them any news from area or National. A number of us more able bodied and not locked down have met in the Castle grounds for a stroll. I think there was about 13 of us all together going around in small groups finishing with a few of us enjoying a cuppa at the outside cafe. Luckily the weather held. I think we may struggle now the weather has changed.
We also managed a committee meeting in Heather’s garden in brilliant sunshine obviously cake was involved too. Many of us are in touch on what’s app and texts and a few of us have managed a couple of socially distanced coffees.
Aquarius Club’s Chairman, Margaret Innes says they have been in touch the same as others and held tea parties where they could and sent out their own newsletter and the annual club report. One member and her husband cycled miles to make sure Easter Eggs were delivered to each member, and of course Scrubs were made by Jean Foster and Anne Chappell.
Ann Claire of Newton-le-Willows club says “We keep in touch by telephone as many of our ladies have not provided or indeed don’t have email. It is a slower way of passing information on but the positive side is that it’s good to hear a friendly voice and have a good chat”.
Brenda at Windmill club says they have been keeping in touch by phone and meeting in each other’s gardens but now autumn is here that isn’t possible so it is a waiting game, as it is for all of us, for the club to get back to normal.
Janet Hares from Spring Farm Club says their club has been making ‘scrubs’ for Queen’s and St Georges’s Hospital they have managed to send all their members a copy of the newsletter and she and Val have added to it and members have called us to say how they enjoy reading it. They do the recipes too.
Barbara and Sandra from Herts Lea Valley have been in regular contact with their clubs, mostly to postpone events unhappily, but also a cheery word.
Dorothy from Hoddesdon Club says “Like many other clubs we haven’t been able to meet since March and keeping in touch with members has been difficult. Several committee meetings have been held in gardens when we have been able to swap news of members and plan how to deliver Head Office news letters. Some we could e-mail and some we delivered as letters. Most notable was the rain storm meeting under umbrellas in our Chairladies garden, the fastest ever. Thank you to everyone who has been in contact with us and with each other. We hope you are keeping well and busy and that we will be able to meet up soon.
Hazel from Hillview Club says”Our Chairwoman, Treasurer and Secretary have been contacting by phone our club Members to see how they all are and hope they are keeping well. We have printed off the NAWC newsletters and sent them out to all our Members. We have also sent out our own club Newsletter to see how they all are and to let them know how much we miss them. We care about our members very much. To let them know also that we will be back as soon as we are allowed to do so”.
Copper Beech Chairman Chris has been holding coffee morning in her house
What a wonderful job the chairmen, secretaries and others are doing for their clubs, the main thing that comes across is how desperate we all are to get back together and for life to become normal again. If any other clubs would like to let us know what they have been doing they can be printed in the next newsletter or in News & Views in the New Year.
Answers to August Quiz Well done if you managed to get all 10 correct
- Who would you address as Your Grace? A Duke or a Bishop
- What is the common name of the disease Variola? Smallpox
- Which Anglo-Saxon warrior prince featured in an epic poem and died from a dragon’s poisonous breath? Beowulf
- Who said, “The female of the species is more deadly than the male”? Rudyard Kipling
- In 330AD, the centre of the Roman Empire ceased to be Rome itself. What was the new Capital? Constantinople
- From what language does the word elastic originate? Greek
- Helminthophobia is a fear of what? Worms
- Which sitcom was originally called “You’ll never get rich”? The Phil Silvers Show
- The athlete Carl Lewis shares a birthday with which royal? Princess Diana
- What is Lord Lichfield’s real name? Thomas Patrick John Anson
Quiz for October
1 The All England Club, Wimbledon, hosted which sport before it was taken over by lawn tennis?
2 The worldwide Stock Market crash on 19th October, 1987 became known as what?
3 Name the two ‘Dylan’s’ depicted on the cover of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
4 Who was Paula Yate’s famous father?
5 Which song by a palindromic pop group had a palindromic title?
6 Which German composer’s best known work is the opera Hansel and Gretel?
7 Which British actor died during the making of the film Gladiator?
8 What is a young penguin called?
9 King Louis XIV of France reigned for 72 years but what age was he when he came to the throne?
10 If you had a rummer from Germany, what would you do with it?
Answers next month
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Claire’s Recipe
Prawn Linguine
Ingredients
Cooked King prawns, as many as you fancy, 10 each is a nice amount buy in a pack
1 Red Bell Pepper
Around 20 Cherry tomatoes
Olive Oil for cooking
4 cloves of Garlic crushed ( do this by a pestle and mortar, or slice and crush with salt and the back of a spoon)
Teaspoon of chilli flakes (Leave out if you do not want any background heat)
2 Lemons
Large glass of white wine, say 220ml
Bag of fresh Spinach, say 200-250gramms
Around 200 grams, (just under half a bag) of Pasta Linguine, can be white or whole-wheat
Salt & Ground Black Pepper
This is one of my favourite Friday night dinners, and I have some garlic bread on the side. Quite quick to cook, and although it may not look like it at first reading, it is really simple.
Chop the red pepper into small cubes, and half the cherry tomatoes. In a large frying pan or wok add a generous splash of olive oil, and fry them both together, not too hot just enough for a sizzle.
(Get a separate pan and get some water heating up ready to boil for the pasta.)
Once the tomatoes and peppers start to soften, add in the garlic cloves, and the chili flakes.
Cook a bit longer and the smell now once the garlic starts cooking is lovely, say 3-4 minutes. Keep stirring occasionally so the garlic doesn’t burn.
Hopefully your water is now boiling in the other pan, so get the linguine on, I break the length of the pasta in half, just makes it easier to eat at the end. This needs to cook for about 10 minutes, check its cooked by tasting or do my trick, throw a piece at tiles in the kitchen, if it sticks, its cooked.
Whilst the pasta is boiling, add in the glass of wine, the juice of 1 lemon, and some grated zest also, to the tomato pan, I grate the lemon first straight into the pan, then cut it in half to juice and add that in, (watch out for pips), the other lemon is simply to have a wedge when served. Let this gently boil for around 5 minutes, for the alcohol to burn off and the flavours to mix. I add in some salt and lots of black pepper to season at this point.
Next add you spinach to the pan, it will look piled high, but will soon wilt down, takes 3-4 minutes, and once it start to wilt, mix it around with tongs or large spoon, then add in the cooked prawns, again mix in. The pasta should be ready now, drain it off, and I rinse with water from a boiled kettle as it removes some of the starch but you don’t have to, then add the pasta straight in to the mixture, give it a good stir in with 2 spoons or tongs, do this for about a minute or two, then serve & enjoy.
As usual just a reminder Poppy Wreaths can be ordered direct from the British Legion You can order by calling telephone number 01622 717172, and asking for Type C wreath, quoting the code MUDIGN00011 – by doing that it will have the NAWC badge logo inside the wreath. The cost is a suggested donation of £18.50, and you can pay by card over the phone.
Calendars and Christmas cards, including a new design of a Christmas Wreath are now available from the office, plus any other goods (stocking fillers) see website for details. In regard to the 2021 Diaries, the stock we had has now sold out, but we will be placing a further order with our supplier shortly to fulfil other orders that have come in , therefore PLEASE do let us know by return of this email, if you would like some, once this second supply has sold, we will not be able to source anymore.
Keep safe everyone and Best Wishes to you all,
Chris & the Committee
