Women’s Institute – CraftyGuider

The Big Plan

I need a plan.

Working from home is wonderful, but having all of my life based from home means that work, kids, the business, volunteering, housework and down time all merge into one. If I switch the laptop on to update a record on the Guiding database, I end up also writing the agenda for the next WI meeting, seeing what is happening in Twitter, writing press releases to try and attract leaders for the local Brownie unit, checking another unit’s records to see if they managed to move Rainbow Maisy to the Brownie waiting list and looking up a random person on Wikipedia which leads to another person, and another and another. I’ll go into the Craftyguidelets’ bedrooms to quickly collect their washing and I’ll put their library books back in their bags, arrange the teddies on the bed, sort through the wardrobes for hangers, dig out all the used tissues, empty their bins, which in turn leads to emptying all the bins, sorting the recycling and so on.

Right now I’m supposed to be tidying up the office, but going downstairs to fetch the stepladder, I also collected my diary and to do list, and brought my laptop upstairs to check on my planner which has led to me thinking of a couple of blog ideas to note down, and I’d better check my emails, and there are a couple of corrections to do on the WI newsletter and eldest will be a Guide after Christmas so I wonder if she’s done enough to be awarded her Music Group badge as soon as she joins… See, I’m hopeless!

I’ve recently started investigating bullet lists and planners to try and get more focused, and with the extended Easter holidays ending next Tuesday, and therefore all my Guiding starting up again, a plan is needed.

Are there any methods that have worked for you?

Women’s Institute Centenary Annual Meeting

Having spent a day at Buckingham Palace at the WI Royal Garden Party, the next big event in the WI’s centenary programme was the Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall. Delegates from across the country attended and it was a fabulously grand occasion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t there but did get to see a live transmission of the event at my local Cineworld. OK, the surroundings weren’t as jaw dropping as the grandeur of the Albert Hall which I did experience a few times when I was younger, but the live transmission was a great opportunity for ordinary members up and down the country to get to see the event.

There may have been sound problems in the hall, but we heard everything loud and clear. Janice Langley, the NFWI Chair looked incredibly nervous when the royal party of HM The Queen, Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex were on stage with her, but she didn’t put a foot wrong.

There were three excellent speakers. Lucy Worsley who is going to be on our screens soon with a history of the WI, gave a fascinating insight into her research on the subject. Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson spoke about her life and achievements in sport and now in the House of Lords, including her family’s motto ‘Aim high, even if you hit a cabbage’. Finally Helena Morrissey, CEO of Newton Investment Management spoke about the 30% club which she founded to try and get at least 30% female board members.

There was also a selection of songs by the Bleadon Belles who won the choir competition, and a presentation of the knitwear collaboration between WI members and Kingston University to produce garments for their university fashion show. I don’t think I’ll be wanting to wear any of the garments, but the work to produce them was fabulous.

One of my favourite (and possibly most confusing until we got our heads around it) parts of the day was the debate on the NFWI Resolution “Failing to care – assessment of need in long term care. This meeting calls on HM government to remove the distinction between nursing care and personal care in the assessment of the needs of individuals, in order to advance health and wellbeing.” When we discussed it at our local WI level, we were confused about what the resolution was trying to achieve, and whether it was possible to do this. At the meeting, there was an amendment to the wording, so there was a vote on accepting the amendment. This was passed, so then there was a further discussion on the amended resolution before a motion was put forward to move to the next business (still with me?). Speakers then voiced what we had felt at our meeting; the resolution was just not what the WI should be working towards. The care system was in need of an overhaul, but new legislation, lack of government funding, plus the wording of the resolution which wasn’t specific enough, meant that it needed more work. The speaker from Stoke Newington WI really clarified the position for me using the SMART criteria for setting objectives. The motion to move to the next business was overwhelmingly passed so there was no vote on the resolution.

I really hope that there are live transmissions of future events. It was so interesting to see how our WI is run and it’s a shame the annual meeting is only open to a few delegates from each federation.

If you would like to join the WI, put your postcode into the WI finder to get more information. We are the original social network. We are run by volunteers, are a not-for-profit organisation, and provide a place for women to have fun, chat, learn new skills, take part in a wide range of activities and campaign on important issues. And there is usually cake!

WI Centenary Royal Garden Party

100 years ago, the first WI started in the UK, having had it’s origins in Canada. As one of the centenary celebrations, each branch of the WI held a ballot to choose a representative. We had 2 members put their names forward, and because the other member won a place with her dual membership WI, we both got to go.An invite to the palace deserved a splurge on a hat, and the amazingly talented Michele Dawn came up with this beauty. I think it’s very ‘Home Fires‘ with a beautiful vintage brooch in the middle. I felt amazing wearing it, even on the tube.The weather forecast was dreadful for the day, but apart from a bit of drizzle and being very gusty, we got away with it. Several women spent a lot of time chasing their hats across the palace lawn, but there was usually someone to help catch them.I rarely do selfies, but did this one in the queue outside the palace with my new red lipstick. I asked the woman at the Bobbi Brown counter in John Lewis to find me a 1940’s style red colour that wouldn’t clash with my hair and she came through with flying colours.

I didn’t travel with anyone in my County Federation, but spotted a woman on the tube with a hat and we exchanged a couple of words about being in the WI. She was travelling with her husband so we parted at Green Park. What a surprise when Caron from Collingham WI spotted me inside the palace out of 8000 other women and we joined forces for the day.One tip she’d got from other people who had been to garden parties before was to get in quick with the food. And yes, it tasted as good as it looked. Photos inside the palace were forbidden, but I’m a rebel!

We then joined the crowds to see the royals. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall came down our side of the lawn. The word went through that she was wearing a white hat with a blue band so the tallest people kept a running commentary going about her progress. She was lovely and chatted to so many people along the way. When she had passed by, we spotted that there was another person following round which turned out to be Princess Alexandra. She was wearing a lovely embroidered jacket, and again was talking to everyone.

When she had passed by, we could spot another crowd on the other side of the lawn so thought that we might catch Sophie, Countess of Wessex too. We did which was a thrill for me as she is President of Girlguiding UK.

After that, we did a turn around the grounds looking at the gorgeous azeleas, before swapping numbers and heading off on our separate ways.It was a lovely day, and I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to go. I left with throbbing feet but memories of a great day.

Dear September

Where did our time go September? 30 days and it was all over!

You gave me glorious weather (mostly!) and lots of time in the garden appreciating the wonderful flowers still blooming their socks off. Considering that from February to April it looked like a muddy mess, now it’s landscaped and lovely.

My little Leprechaun turned Imp now has her Brownie Gardener badge for the hard work she put in sowing seeds, thinning out, weeding, watering and finally clearing away. Hopefully she’ll help again next Spring, and her grandparents want to hire her for her skills with a seed packet.

I achieved things, September. This pretty dress for Rainbow Craftyguidelet, some cards, some bunting, and even a tutorial for the book bags I made for the Craftyguidelets’ music lessons. Sales have been picking up with Craftyguider following a bit of promo work, and the big push to Christmas starts now. The Christmas shop is now open. I just need to fill it up a bit more!My Guiding life has started again. Guides and Rainbows are back, and once again I am juggling admin, trying to get as many girls as possible off the waiting lists and into units where they can join the fun, and trying to encourage more volunteers to come forward and help this to happen.I have also started Trefoil Guild which is like the WI for Guiding types. It was so lovely just going to a meeting for grown ups, not being asked to do anything, not being responsible for anything, not feeling guilty for not doing more. I just enjoyed the talk on the fabulous work of Guide Dogs and the puppy walkers. Finally something just for me to enjoy!WI planning has started again for our Handmade Christmas Craft Fair on 16th November. I need to get a shifty on for my stall!

But then just like that it was over September. 30 days of full on busyness and then phwoomp! October happened.

Autumn is here and I’ll be joining in with Miss Beatrix’s #BashSAD challenge to banish the blues of the shorter days. I’m also attempting to complete a whole month of the Fat Mum Slim #fmsphotoaday challenge on Instagram. My house is finally gaining some order after a summer of neglect, the kids are settled at school. Let’s do this October!

What was that? Half term at the end of the month? *sticks fingers in ears and pretends not to hear*

What are you up to this month?