Our December coffee morning

 
Installations, decorations and recommendations... our Christmas coffee morning at the Museum of the Home

It's been an East End WI tradition at this time of year to see the Rooms Through Time Christmas displays at the Museum of the Home. So this year, we've met at Molly's Bar & Kitchen, the recently-reopened café next door. And, most importantly, there's been chat – tales of festivities swapped, TV recommendations given, exhibitions discussed. 

Afterwards, some of us went in to the museum – special mention for its furniture-decorated tree – where we enjoyed the clever styling of wonderfully varied East London Christmases, read the Yiddish translations in the Hannukah room set and marvelled at the mycelium in the future display. There was also the David Hoffman photography exhibition to see.

A happy New Year from (and to) all of us at East End WI. 

Look out for our coming up in January blogpost and if you're a member, our e-newsletter for news of our January meeting, walk and coffee morning.

Our December meeting

Deck the halls... festive making at our December meeting

"It's very quiet", someone said (quietly) amid intense concentration and a lot of pins... guided by our very own Dawn, we were making intricately assembled fabric-covered baubles. As we finished each stage, chatter bubbled up in our sociable Christmas making session. And everyone left with a decoration to take home. 

A massive thank you to Dawn, not just for the workshop but for the huge amount of preparation it took to snip and assemble bundles of ready-cut cloth, to Heather for delicious cheese scones, to Natasha for magnificent mince pies, to Alison for sweet treats and to Elizabeth for bonus makes.

To all of our members, our very best wishes for a peaceful and joyful festive season and our thanks for another year of interest, discovery, friendship and solidarity. 

Fancy coming along next year? Look out for our coming up in January blogpost.

Our December walk

Spectacular views, dramatic history, glorious architecture and sunshine – our December walk in Greenwich

It's quite a view... so a stride up the steep hill of Greenwich Park was worth it to admire the great loops of the Thames and marvel at the skyline, the Manhattan-like Canary Wharf towering over the stately National Maritime Museum and Royal Naval College. On the way, we had passed the restoration of the hill's original terracing.

We strolled down to visit The Queen's House, chatting our way around historical paintings, responses looking at history through a modern lens, rooms' original functions, the Tulip Stairs, the first self-supporting spiral stairs in Britain, and the painted ceiling. Then, to another spectacular ceiling at the Old Royal Naval College Chapel, the day's sunshine lighting up its unusual blue and pale gold.

Our coffee stop was at the Painted Hall (with a ticket, you can see its interior and Luke Jerram's installation Mars, on display until 20 January 2025).

At the end of our walk, some of our walkers headed on to Greenwich Market, full of twinkling lights for Christmas.

Fancy joining one of our walks? Look out for the next Coming Up blogpost and if you're a member, our monthly newsletter and walkers' WhatsApp group.

Pictures by Alison, Christine and Lydia

Coming up in December

A nautical walk, Christmas crafts and rooms through time – what's on in December

Our monthly walk – Discover Greenwich

Saturday 14th December, 11.00 am

Meet at Greenwich DLR station entrance

Put together by our walking group, this month's walk will take in some of the wonderful sights of Greenwich: The Royal Naval College, the Queen’s House, the National Maritime Museum or maybe a walk up to the park. Christine tells us that there has been some restoration to the park including historic terracing of Observatory Hill. As we pass the Royal Chapel, we might even hear some music from a student practising.

The EEWI walks WhatsApp group will help keep you updated on the day

Monthly Meeting – Christmas Craft

Thursday 19th December 7pm for 7.30pm

(Usual venue, St Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL Entrance via the gate)

Our very own Dawn is going to teach us how to make a fabulous Christmas bauble.

She says please bring a thimble as we have a number of pins to manage.

If you are coming to one of our meetings for the first time, please contact us for more details on access to our venue.

Monthly coffee and catch-up

Friday 27th December

Molly's Bar & Kitchen, Museum of the Home

1 Geffrye St, London E2 8JH

Meet between 10.30 and 11.00

We have an annual tradition of meeting at the Museum of The Home (formerly The Geffrye Museum) to see its rooms through time with seasonal decorations. So this year, we plan to meet at the newly reopened Molly’s Bar & Kitchen. 

Look out for our news in mid January of our planned speakers for 2025. 

Sketch of Greenwich Park by Lydia

Maritime Museum photo (Yinka Shonibare sculpture outside the museum) by Lydia

Crafts photo from Dawn.