tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75636165795786323002024-03-19T08:47:57.639+00:00East End WIcolleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02484411878651364981noreply@blogger.comBlogger412125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-50526284659684991292024-03-09T19:07:00.001+00:002024-03-09T19:07:27.422+00:00Our March walk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaTC1LRoxZkjsQehzkEmwv9RH6IyJleKdktsVOvdfnmNU7cspZNrumozGAnFk5j11GFt80LnH15cLwBhSUaT7es9S61Mk3K83m6s5A0QUfesgNswzg2Yfy-bIbhbd2210vjVsDYOcxgi_Tq0hu9O0zXO2Ly_O_aE-EQQdRjtZx7eZBWLpp9rRMJPFgCY/s5816/March%20walk%20blogpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5816" data-original-width="1128" height="3494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaTC1LRoxZkjsQehzkEmwv9RH6IyJleKdktsVOvdfnmNU7cspZNrumozGAnFk5j11GFt80LnH15cLwBhSUaT7es9S61Mk3K83m6s5A0QUfesgNswzg2Yfy-bIbhbd2210vjVsDYOcxgi_Tq0hu9O0zXO2Ly_O_aE-EQQdRjtZx7eZBWLpp9rRMJPFgCY/w677-h3494/March%20walk%20blogpost.jpg" width="677" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Three churches, a farm and a family firm – our March walk from Limehouse to Stepney</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">We had two churches on our list – St Anne's Limehouse and St Dunstan's in Stepney. But thanks to our very own Vivienne, our walk started with the 1930s church <a href="https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/our-lady-immaculate-st-frederick-limehouse" target="_blank">Our Lady Immaculate and St Frederick</a>, built for Limehouse's large Irish Catholic community. And there's more: it has the 'Steering Christ', a statue on the church that acted as a navigation aid for sailors coming into the docks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Walking on via a look inside the old Passmore Edwards library turned hotel, we headed to the 18th century Hawksmoor church <a href="https://stanneslimehouse.org" target="_blank">St Anne's Limehouse</a>, now open to visitors on Fridays and Saturdays. A welcoming volunteer told us about the stained glass that has gone off to Sheffield for restoration, the church organ that was in the Great Exhibition, the church interior, most of which was replaced after a fire, invited us to explore the upper gallery via a staircase that's one of the few surviving parts of the original interior, showed us the crypt that provides community meeting space and told us how the church is supported today. We explored the church's exhibition on local historical figures and marvelled at the craft skills needed to restore the church glass and plasterwork.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our route to Stepney took us past the Seamen's Mission (now apartments), one of a number in the area that once served sailors from all over the world, and along Salmon Lane. Then to <a href="http://www.stdunstanstepney.com" target="_blank">St Dunstan & All Saints Stepney</a>, the 'Church of the High Seas', closed – a charming note on the door explained that people were away on a pilgrimage – but in glorious sunshine, we were able to enjoy the marvellous gargoyles and read its history going back over 1,000 years. Brenda told us the story of one of the relief carvings above the door, of St Dunstan using his pincers to nip the nose of the Devil.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Our plan was to have coffee at <a href="https://stepneycityfarm.org" target="_blank">Stepney City Farm</a> but finding it packed, we walked through, along Stepney Green, and headed to Rinkoff Bakery, the East end family business founded in 1911 whose history (and crodoughs) we enjoyed at <a href="http://eastendwi.blogspot.com/2023/06/our-june-talk.html" target="_blank">our June 2023 talk</a> by Esther Rinkoff.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">At walk's end, two of us strolled on to see the wildflowers at Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A massive thank you to Vivienne for bringing her local knowledge to this walk full of interest.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Fancy joining us? Look out for our next Coming up blogpost for details.</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-72075498391088720172024-03-02T15:11:00.003+00:002024-03-15T19:52:46.814+00:00Coming up in March<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyw40HgA9ANUbmtx6_3SVC0_fZ7MjLHOASqya__ofQALr7yb5lN8OmmMeangRRxnGXYYrwr2Hz0Fjaad5sRGXDeIEGdpTINv97-LIh0UavPvQWF81GpZ8ztfqs9TGIO1DQ-_a-p_SOaex9WN_9GVY3HTojJTDXrlIPjYwkAlIHGM34Wmrs0VeyVrbJhw/s1128/EEWI%20what's%20Mar%2024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1128" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyw40HgA9ANUbmtx6_3SVC0_fZ7MjLHOASqya__ofQALr7yb5lN8OmmMeangRRxnGXYYrwr2Hz0Fjaad5sRGXDeIEGdpTINv97-LIh0UavPvQWF81GpZ8ztfqs9TGIO1DQ-_a-p_SOaex9WN_9GVY3HTojJTDXrlIPjYwkAlIHGM34Wmrs0VeyVrbJhw/w669-h588/EEWI%20what's%20Mar%2024.jpg" width="669" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #073763; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>East end places on foot, East end lives on film, East End skills in Stratford – coming up in March</b></span><p></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our monthly walk: an episcopal journey – Saturday 9th March, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">11.00 am, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">meet at Limehouse DLR</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the bonus tour of St John’s on last month’s walk, it will be a double this month: we'll m</span><span style="font-family: arial;">eet at Limehouse DLR and stroll along to St Anne’s Limehouse then round to St Dunstan’s. There's l</span><span style="font-family: arial;">ots of interesting history at both and along the way.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then on for a coffee at <a href="https://stepneycityfarm.org" target="_blank">Stepney City Farm</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Check out the EEWI walkers' WhatsApp for who else to look out for on the day. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our monthly talk: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Our lives in Film, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Derek Smith – T</span><span style="font-family: arial;">hursday 21st March, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">7pm for 7.30pm start, at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dereksmithproductions.com" target="_blank">Derek Smith</a> is a local film maker. He is creating a new project so we will have the benefit of finding out what it is all about. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">He will share some of his experiences in the detective work of researching working class communities.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Brush up your ideas and memories about the boroughs we live in – they could be in the next production!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Please note the new arrangements for access to St Margaret's House: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The new code will be available for our regular members via our member whatsapp group - if you attend regularly and haven’t had an invite to the group yet please contact us vis our email. </span></i><i style="font-family: arial;">If you are not a member of EEWI our 'white bell' will be on the wall, so ring and someone will come to let you in. Sometimes this lets us down, so you can always ring one of the committee if other means of access fail!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are coming for the first time, contact us at EEWI via our email to check on access so we can make sure you are able to get access smoothly.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our monthly coffee morning: change of venue... </span></span></b><b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday 29th March – </span><span style="font-family: arial;">meet between 10.30am and 11am at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Jim & Tonic at the Print House, 133 High Street, Stratford, E15 2RB</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This is just along the road from our original venue for this month's coffee morning, the Mary Ward Centre, and set back from the road, facing the canal. For those who fancy a walk after their coffee, it's an easy stroll along the canal to Three Mills Green.</span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;"><i>With thanks to Heather for the words. </i></span><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">Sketch of the Mary Ward Centre café: Lydia. </i><i style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial;">Image of St Anne's Limehouse: Creative Commons / Christine Matthews. Cityscape from Derek Smith's film Gascoyne Lives. </i></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-44094692651078697372024-02-16T19:24:00.001+00:002024-02-16T19:24:50.069+00:00Our February workshop<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g36jpEbdkJ88hE_nZJFTlbZSuIFbmQyXozPCkFyuLog98vt5En3rVwScqz7rbiqwWkXX6CbL5DivPI9E9WlE9fI-TITbnnwDzsNcQUCSwJ43L03S9Qxpmnt2JgnLav6tC_3VCi7e6g1uF4SNkpoEh6VVFPI8iJCYReBWiT6mbHofU6RSXLdeH96XsHU/s5203/Feb%20workshop.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5203" data-original-width="1128" height="3121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g36jpEbdkJ88hE_nZJFTlbZSuIFbmQyXozPCkFyuLog98vt5En3rVwScqz7rbiqwWkXX6CbL5DivPI9E9WlE9fI-TITbnnwDzsNcQUCSwJ43L03S9Qxpmnt2JgnLav6tC_3VCi7e6g1uF4SNkpoEh6VVFPI8iJCYReBWiT6mbHofU6RSXLdeH96XsHU/w673-h3121/Feb%20workshop.jpg" width="673" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Writing to music with Fiona Thompson – our February workshop</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Pedals – who knew? For our workshop with writer Fiona Thompson, there was much excitement when Fiona brought her harp. Few of us had seen one of these beautiful instruments up close.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fiona's writing workshops are inspired by Natalie Goldberg, a Buddhist writer who combined writing with meditation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With prompts and listening to passages of music, we were encouraged to write, and keep writing whatever came to us, until each piece of music finished. We shared our writing, from wistful to heartbreaking to witty to the pure enjoyment of listening to the music itself.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A curious lot, our members wanted to know more – and Fiona invited us to have a go at playing the harp. For an instrument with such subtlety, we discovered that it needs some wellie to play its characteristic cascade of notes, the <i>glissando</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And the sketches? Well, I was supposed to be taking pictures but music is so lovely to draw...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A massive thank-you to Fiona for a wonderful evening and particularly for the generosity of transporting her harp to play for us live.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Find out more about Fiona's writing work <a href="http://www.wordspring.co.uk" target="_blank">here</a> and London City Orchestra <a href="https://www.londoncityorchestra.com" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Photos by Lydia and Alison</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-79102117762614599712024-02-11T11:27:00.001+00:002024-02-11T11:27:14.378+00:00Our February walk<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o6P2zwWqtkC8Duz46RZgL29wIG6MecAVtDEYwpheOj464A6SaYX3jxNDAIkhD7QlweKdidzQMHFG-V4Wfzw5GGrlnC6rvrHmTlJIkwINmM43CnfaIOOGv56wvESuYjyCvFGpM_EPoSJFrTugrYdh3A5mIDeJmjV7hEjZPuGw4exotQhfzZCy4Z9Z7sw/s2846/February%20walk%20blogpost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2846" data-original-width="1128" height="1696" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-o6P2zwWqtkC8Duz46RZgL29wIG6MecAVtDEYwpheOj464A6SaYX3jxNDAIkhD7QlweKdidzQMHFG-V4Wfzw5GGrlnC6rvrHmTlJIkwINmM43CnfaIOOGv56wvESuYjyCvFGpM_EPoSJFrTugrYdh3A5mIDeJmjV7hEjZPuGw4exotQhfzZCy4Z9Z7sw/w673-h1696/February%20walk%20blogpost.jpg" width="673" /></a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bethnal Green through fresh eyes – our February walk</span></b></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">This month, we found a new view of the neighbourhood we meet in through the beautifully designed and illustrated Oxford House booklet <i><a href="https://www.oxfordhouse.org.uk/event/a-young-persons-guide-to-bethnal-green-walking-tour-pick-up-your-guide/" target="_blank">A Young Person's Guide to Bethnal Green</a></i> (free to pick up at Oxford House). One of its writers is Graham Barker, who has spoken at one of our meetings and led one of our walks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Starting with a potter along Columbia Road, normally full to bursting with flower and plant stalls on market day, we turned into Jesus Green, greeted by cheery Spring daffodils. The houses bordering it were originally social housing, part of the Jesus Hospital Estate. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Weavers Fields (here, crocuses to enjoy) was, we learned, named after the weavers' houses in an area that once had many more streets, cleared in the 1960s. We paused for a look at Peter Dunn's <i>Weaving Identities</i> sculpture, referencing the history of the park and created through school and community workshops, and enjoyed the wonderful carvings by the school students in the bricks at its base.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Onward to <a href="https://www.oxfordhouse.org.uk" target="_blank">Oxford House</a>, a Settlement originally opened in in a former school where University of Oxford graduates lived so that they could volunteer in Bethnal Green. Oxford House as it is now was purpose-built and opened in 1892. Early members, many of them teachers or lawyers, provided youth clubs, adult education and Sunday lectures in Victoria Park and in 1931, Gandhi gave a speech through an Oxford House window to a crowd of 3,000. And it's still a busy place of activities, classes and café. As we left, we enjoyed the fine views of the City through the gardens and chatted about the changing skyline.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Finishing our walk at <a href="https://www.stjohnonbethnalgreen.church" target="_blank">St John on Bethnal Green</a>, we were treated to a tour by EEWI member Clare. We learned of its Sir John Soane architecture, the modern Stations of the Cross paintings by <a href="https://www.chrisgollon.com/collection/stations-of-the-cross/" target="_blank">Chris Gollon</a> and the concerts hosted at St John that make the most of its acoustics. A huge thank-you to Clare – it's a special thing to be shown a place by someone who knows it so well.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Then, a café stop at <a href="https://www.thebeehivelondon.co.uk" target="_blank">The Beehive</a>.</span></p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Fancy joining us? Look out for our next Coming up blogpost for details.</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-24894470898920416392024-02-05T21:44:00.002+00:002024-02-09T16:55:14.252+00:00Coming up in February<p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiJ7iqAgcandUereCqk6iZG4EYMbFrcLQ7jVkhAbxL5foVPecdRvX6AA3jB3_czTCw8ovrR43i3REN_8M0ZY7EcOMNM2iVfWwzsJmYEf6rP-NzAWgdRaj_DWuwT7mDl5m0iuNsMRMIa5RZVy-PBGyPoXaNv8FDQzSaHxJhqVNS8wLxRsBfjQaUYfii28/s1378/EEWI%20what's%20Feb%2024.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1378" data-original-width="1128" height="802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwiJ7iqAgcandUereCqk6iZG4EYMbFrcLQ7jVkhAbxL5foVPecdRvX6AA3jB3_czTCw8ovrR43i3REN_8M0ZY7EcOMNM2iVfWwzsJmYEf6rP-NzAWgdRaj_DWuwT7mDl5m0iuNsMRMIa5RZVy-PBGyPoXaNv8FDQzSaHxJhqVNS8wLxRsBfjQaUYfii28/w657-h802/EEWI%20what's%20Feb%2024.jpg" width="657" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Bethnal Green through fresh eyes, writing through music and coffee on the way to art – adventures for February</b></span> </p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Our monthly walk: Saturday 10th February, 11am – </span></b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Join us in rediscovering our very own Bethnal Green</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Using the beautiful booklet from Oxford House <i><a href="https://www.oxfordhouse.org.uk/event/a-young-persons-guide-to-bethnal-green-walking-tour-pick-up-your-guide/" target="_blank">A Young Person's Guide to Bethnal Green</a></i> which Graham Barker helped create, let's explore and enjoy at a leisurely pace the landmarks, green spaces and atmosphere. We sometimes rush through on our way to somewhere else, but this is a chance to appreciate the area in a different way. Coffee break choices all along the way – the Oxford House one is spacious and offers a chance to explore the building and exhibitions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Meet at Columbia Road Market – junction with Barnet Grove. Clare mentioned that she might be able to include a tour of St John's as a bonus!</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>You can pick up a copy of the map at Oxford House, and some will have been distributed at the January meeting.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Our monthly meeting: </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">Thursday 15th February, </b><b style="font-family: arial;">7pm for 7.30pm start – </b></span><b style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;">Creative writing workshop </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Join us for a workshop with writer and harpist Fiona Thompson, using as prompts some music that she has recorded. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Bring a notebook and pen. And be ready to surprise yourself at what you can release and capture in the written word. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Please note new arrangements for access to St Margaret's House: </span></i><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">the new code will be available for our regular members via our member WhatsApp group. If you come to meetings regularly and haven’t yet had an invitation to the group please contact us via email.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are not a member of EEWI, please press the white bell on the wall and someone will come to let you in. Sometimes this lets us down, so you can always call one of the committee if other means of access fail!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are coming for the first time, please contact us via email so we can make sure you are able to get access smoothly.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our monthly coffee morning: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday 23rd February – </span><span style="font-family: arial;">meet between 10.30am and 11am at </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Zealand Café, 391 Roman Road, E3 5QS</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There should be room for us either inside or at a bracing outside table. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Afterwards, as we will be in the area, we could pop in to Chisenhale Gallery. The next exhibition, <a href="https://chisenhale.org.uk/exhibition/joshua-leon/" target="_blank">Joshua Leon</a>, will have opened on the previous evening so we can be among the first to visit.</span></span></div></div>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-80511480049069101802024-01-31T13:19:00.003+00:002024-01-31T13:19:44.727+00:00Our January coffee morning<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUUKz8omzYs94yXDOc1_tv67BsqDemol1NjCqlpPKDkAzH4lV7UdoLsfZGDNWx3rMJSYMChw7jPVoeeU6R9xY9F2z5mvsUUqe8QfgYcGmbK95tj31zwrRcfOSL9d5mj7ml1920cLyw5nNydhOtagSshRCDhlpOqfmbbD2UTPUAKh9BQkgRdjFP0mZoMU/s1128/coffee%20morning_Jan%2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1128" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUUKz8omzYs94yXDOc1_tv67BsqDemol1NjCqlpPKDkAzH4lV7UdoLsfZGDNWx3rMJSYMChw7jPVoeeU6R9xY9F2z5mvsUUqe8QfgYcGmbK95tj31zwrRcfOSL9d5mj7ml1920cLyw5nNydhOtagSshRCDhlpOqfmbbD2UTPUAKh9BQkgRdjFP0mZoMU/w667-h554/coffee%20morning_Jan%2024.jpg" width="667" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>All aboard for Hackney – our January coffee morning</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Our President, Heather, writes:</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A warm, welcoming coffee in the Barrell Boulangerie. There is plenty of space, good acoustics for all the necessary catching up that has to be done, and a great display and selection of open sandwiches, if we could only have stayed. Highly recommended. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk" target="_blank">Hackney Museum</a> just over the road next to the Town Hall and inside the Library (fully accessible) has a lovely display of Hackney through the ages. Included is an ancient wooden boat hull but also glimpses of more recent life – domestic, industrial and social. Some of us may remember kitchens with the old free-standing gas cooker (see photo above) and feel that the upheaval of moving to 'a fitted kitchen' was worth it after all! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">There is a comprehensive and fascinating photographic display alongside, and a large sculpture of a tower block where you can peep in through the windows, for the curious amongst us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Of course you can take the bus there, but any youngsters you may have with you can get in their own vehicle (see photo above).</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With thanks to Heather for the museum pictures. </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Look out for the Coming up in February blogpost for details of our next coffee morning.</span></i></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-17567545155691529522024-01-19T22:02:00.003+00:002024-01-19T22:25:43.549+00:00Our January meeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDSuXmN28hSp1YwX3DeaBSrYxB2q0aiAcMXUDdvqjRMhS_qmm4OXCD4p5c6gy-BMU331WzQjaMcmEfnSNtXeDLzh9zYWnRmpSYq7ZxZEohHgqRuEIkFtXF7ZhpfxVTeJSvnqeYNOaPQs2WtVqXQ-fkAFYitEUUV7T6njhMFVSdjqMV5-kNrbp_vJfU48/s3820/Jan%20talk.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3820" data-original-width="1128" height="2291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDSuXmN28hSp1YwX3DeaBSrYxB2q0aiAcMXUDdvqjRMhS_qmm4OXCD4p5c6gy-BMU331WzQjaMcmEfnSNtXeDLzh9zYWnRmpSYq7ZxZEohHgqRuEIkFtXF7ZhpfxVTeJSvnqeYNOaPQs2WtVqXQ-fkAFYitEUUV7T6njhMFVSdjqMV5-kNrbp_vJfU48/w673-h2291/Jan%20talk.jpg" width="673" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Our January meeting – British Sign Language with Shahbana</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We had a lively and interactive January meeting learning some BSL (British Sign Language) with Shahbana, a BSL interpreter and teacher and a friend of EEWI member Tammy's daughter Charlotte, who is Deaf.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As well as interpreting at events and on TV, BSL supports people at work – Shahbana's interpreting has taken her into a huge variety of settings including offices, beekeeping, Italian cookery, bootcamps, weddings, places of worship and on trips abroad, all through recommendation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Shahbana took us through the alphabet, which has right-and left-handed versions and each of us had a go at spelling our name. We were interested to discover how subtle signing is, for instance the little shake to signal numbers in the tens.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We heard about the difference between BSL and SSE (sign-supported English), one-handed sign language for babies, how signing varies around the world, cultural differences that affect signs – how we drink tea, for instance – and even differences between regions of the UK. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We discussed the growing visibility of signage in TV and film and how texting and Facetime have made a difference for young Deaf people. We asked about its history – Deaf people have always found a way to communicate – and looked back to times when Deaf people were forced to do speech therapy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Shahbana told us about her own path of learning BSL, including going along to Deaf clubs, which welcome hearing people learning BSL, to practise her skills. Shahbana and Charlotte are currently learning Deaf-Blind language.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And we discussed the pros and cons of online and in-person interpreting. Charlotte was strongly in favour of in-person interpreting, which picks up more nuance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Was there anything we particularly wanted to learn how to sign, we were asked as we discussed whole-word signs. We said that we'd like to be able to welcome Deaf people to our stalls and have some simple language to serve them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tea and cake, anyone? And pointing – totally OK in BSL!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>A massive thank-you to Shahbana for a hugely interesting and enjoyable evening, which left many of us keen to learn more. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our January coffee morning: </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Friday 26th January, meet between 10.30am and 11am</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Barrell Boulangerie, Mare Street, Hackney (just over the road from Hackney Empire).</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-2863557844798535682024-01-13T20:06:00.001+00:002024-01-13T20:06:56.038+00:00Our January walk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieXY_hX6xlAqtVe1sXQ9YRqoLfGS4ZIz6JWpVhVW0vkqIJAFsrbAnm1iVFHGCi86Rp6SqergGjRA8y21_hWC0ghLyyuwrUT7vt6gi_TTSke-N7MdIRpY1go59usr1DGzp18h7L04U_VIQkbd7UYPueOI7eu_unM2XUf-u1U7_IQnrzWDB4QQGr6mT9B8/s4536/Jan%20walk.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4536" data-original-width="1128" height="2696" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjieXY_hX6xlAqtVe1sXQ9YRqoLfGS4ZIz6JWpVhVW0vkqIJAFsrbAnm1iVFHGCi86Rp6SqergGjRA8y21_hWC0ghLyyuwrUT7vt6gi_TTSke-N7MdIRpY1go59usr1DGzp18h7L04U_VIQkbd7UYPueOI7eu_unM2XUf-u1U7_IQnrzWDB4QQGr6mT9B8/w674-h2696/Jan%20walk.jpg" width="674" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Sculpture in the City and a rooftop view – our January walk</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"You can walk past these places every day and never walk in to have a look." Busy women, most of us had seen a few of the sculptures and corners of the City that we walked but exploring with the <a href="https://www.sculptureinthecity.org.uk" target="_blank">Sculpture in the City</a> booklet, there were plenty of finds and stories to share. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We took in work by Vanessa da Silva, Emma Louise Moore, Victor Lim Seaward, Larry Bell, Isamu Noguchi, Oliver Bragg, Ugo Rondinone, Phyllida Barlow, Simeon Barclay, Emma Smith, Mika Rottenberg, and other work including Alexander Beleschenko's canopies at 22 Bishopsgate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The day chilly, we walked briskly from sculpture to sculpture, then the suggestion that we go up to <a href="https://www.thegardenat120.com/#content/page/visitor_info" target="_blank">The Garden at 120</a> gave us rooftop views across to the Thames and, when we decided to defrost, warming teas and coffees at <a href="https://www.thegardenat120.com/#content/page/14-hills" target="_blank">14 Hills</a>, the restaurant, bar and deli below.</span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Fancy joining us for a walk? Look our for our next Coming up blogpost.</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-26668741094927760652024-01-04T14:22:00.005+00:002024-01-04T14:31:52.313+00:00Coming up in January<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01xJwxb9RiulyWSoSy74I5dfbF77AN19KeEnvoVvoOq6RmBW4f5NxxTCO7NAZOIxplBOKuzALS5AjKklQOGgccCUm7tgP5qyFHdCx-f3g8r11MviCUhauTMA6Wjcuj8_1RVEbR1a5LGTGOViwmlB9u6kVBnNgWyGxuDxc5hl2RlmA_7-aw2WvY0XZ_Ek/s1180/EEWI%20what's%20on_Jan%2024.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="1128" height="681" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01xJwxb9RiulyWSoSy74I5dfbF77AN19KeEnvoVvoOq6RmBW4f5NxxTCO7NAZOIxplBOKuzALS5AjKklQOGgccCUm7tgP5qyFHdCx-f3g8r11MviCUhauTMA6Wjcuj8_1RVEbR1a5LGTGOViwmlB9u6kVBnNgWyGxuDxc5hl2RlmA_7-aw2WvY0XZ_Ek/w651-h681/EEWI%20what's%20on_Jan%2024.jpg" width="651" /></span></a></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #ec831a; font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year! Welcome to a January full of new things to see, new things to learn and tasty treats</span></b></p><p><b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our January Walk: </span></span></b></p><p><b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Walk, Talk and Sculpture</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> – </span></span></b><b style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">join us for a cultural walk in the City on </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Saturday 13 January, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">11.00am</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Let's open the year rediscovering 'our' city with a brisk walk to enjoy the London 'Sculpture in the City' trail. The booklet is available from the Tourist information booth nestling just south of St Paul's, near the Millennium Bridge, you can also read it online.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meet at the St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate Churchyard, EC2M 3TL for the Vanessa de Silva Muamba Grove creation, then we'll wander as we please with the map as our guide.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our January Meeting: </span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Exploring BSL – </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday 18th January, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">7pm for 7.30pm start </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Shabana, a BSL recognised teacher, will lead us in a session to familiarise us with BSL signing – the alphabet and some signs – for when we have stalls, are volunteering, at work, within our own family and social group, on public transport, or just noticing that for some people this is a kind and thoughtful way to recognise them and communicate. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We have some printed copies of the alphabet sign sheets, but do bring your own if you already use/know it. It is also available online at <a href="https://www.british-sign.co.uk/fingerspelling-alphabet-charts/">British-sign.co.uk</a> and our blogger is delighted to discover that there is a left-handed version available! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>We will be at our usual venue: St Margaret's House, 15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL. If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Our January coffee morning: </span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Friday 26th January, meet between 10.30am and 11am</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Barrell Boulangerie, Mare Street, Hackney (just over the road from Hackney Empire).</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Venturing into Hackney we can enjoy the pastries here and follow up with a visit to the Hackney Museum and/or some shopping. </span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">National WI news: </span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Launching later this month: the WI Learning Hub</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Lifelong learning has always been at the very heart of the WI and it will celebrate the International Day of Education on Wednesday 24 January 2024 by inviting WI members to join for the launch of the WI Learning Hub. The WI Learning Hub will provide WI members with access to a range of online courses, with an array of formats, both live and pre-recorded, and the majority of them will be free. For more information, join the learning hub mailing list via the main <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/education-and-training" target="_blank">WI website</a>.</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-72656877251942535582023-12-16T22:37:00.000+00:002023-12-16T22:37:01.681+00:00Our December meeting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvnr1bveuen13Y5EnCcdwmPrKaL9myH9AeGtsh5XzO8zIyrZYenY7qXMM3kemWsia3RSuT91p3aEME5Gh469E_Sh3MJ6zmyDjg0bJj2uW3zUYLujvyUh1kSi1_oH5T-mQvM4Wu2GT-7JJzrqh6aVtIzA8AYLjGD-8NU3CQWuEvvvO9Mp8-R1_L0kgUd0/s3168/Dec%2023%20activity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3168" data-original-width="1128" height="1841" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvnr1bveuen13Y5EnCcdwmPrKaL9myH9AeGtsh5XzO8zIyrZYenY7qXMM3kemWsia3RSuT91p3aEME5Gh469E_Sh3MJ6zmyDjg0bJj2uW3zUYLujvyUh1kSi1_oH5T-mQvM4Wu2GT-7JJzrqh6aVtIzA8AYLjGD-8NU3CQWuEvvvO9Mp8-R1_L0kgUd0/w656-h1841/Dec%2023%20activity.jpg" width="656" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Merry making – our December meeting</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Tree decorations with Sally. Printmaking with Bridget. Making tiny sketchbooks with me (Lydia). It was a relaxed evening of crafting for our seasonal celebration, Natasha's fabulous mince pies an artwork in themselves (and light as a feather).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">But it was more than that – it was full of the friendship and discovery at the heart of our WI – regulars, friends who hadn't been able to make it in a while and two people coming along for the first time to see what we were all about, everyone welcome, all trying things out just for the fun of it, chatting as we went along, putting it all together at the end into a joyous forest of variety.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">All the best for the festive season. We've worked together on a great line-up of talks and activities in the new year so look out for the January coming up blogpost.</span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our December coffee morning: </b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #990000; font-family: arial;">Friday 29th December, </b><b style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #990000; font-family: arial;">meet between 10.30am and 11am</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Grounded, a new café in Bow: 92 Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA, near Bow Church Station.</span></span></div>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-83622967983692190212023-12-09T18:25:00.001+00:002023-12-09T18:25:31.512+00:00Our December walk<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAU-bl2Z8vV1lNbfObhgep3wNwemhj5_5_V0LmdVLhfiSMQQJe9EinB-cPsDjQ5lONJIHIsNLnnxwEWnJP1AF2OHOoDmNLbHiqxSsCWOp3UdZ6ezDvP8r7PJUWk53iSpTiGu8e4162nwCr0XurnTp_G_6tHFrDfS1OmwzLQ0CFUfdNIp0l0o404MqaEM/s4370/Dec%2023%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4370" data-original-width="1128" height="2573" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpAU-bl2Z8vV1lNbfObhgep3wNwemhj5_5_V0LmdVLhfiSMQQJe9EinB-cPsDjQ5lONJIHIsNLnnxwEWnJP1AF2OHOoDmNLbHiqxSsCWOp3UdZ6ezDvP8r7PJUWk53iSpTiGu8e4162nwCr0XurnTp_G_6tHFrDfS1OmwzLQ0CFUfdNIp0l0o404MqaEM/w667-h2573/Dec%2023%20walk.jpg" width="667" /></a></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>On the trail of the Huguenots – our December walk in Spitalfields</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Following up our November talk on the Huguenots, our December walk was a return to Spitalfields to explore its historic streets. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We met at Aldgate East, wandered along Brick Lane and turned off for Fournier Street and its handsome houses. As we walked, we chatted about the serial uses of buildings, from church to synagogue to mosque, shop fronts records of communities that have arrived, thrived and moved on. We noted generational changes, young people returned to newly-fashionable neighbourhoods that their ancestors had left. At the Huguenot church, Christ Church Spitalfields, we turned down Wilkes Street and found a plaque to Mark Gertler, an artist whose name some of us knew but no more (find out more <a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/mark-gertler-1156" target="_blank">here</a>) and in Princelet Street, we shared stories of visits to the recent Christo exhibition and <a href="https://www.19princeletstreet.org.uk" target="_blank">19 Princelet Street</a>, occasionally open as a museum of immigration and diversity. In Hanbury Street, we paused to look at the tile memorial, then to the former Huguenot hospital and the magnificent <a href="https://dennissevershouse.co.uk" target="_blank">Dennis Severs' House</a>. We headed back towards Liverpool Street Station, dipping down Artillery Lane to see Sandy's Row Synagogue, another former Huguenot church, and the ceramic plaques of bakers. Which gave us an appetite: one of us heading off for bagels; another to lunch; me to buy ingredients for an afternoon's baking.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Fancy joining us for a walk? Look out for our 'coming up' blogposts. </span></i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-34095422119383543912023-11-30T18:26:00.003+00:002023-11-30T18:26:48.883+00:00Coming up in December<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo_E0nXPAoA7B7stB6vLpjuGvv73vdDTtNh8rw7mYBxqKCYeBqHwQguuURPZ-qkVxX1qo89hj1J3YxXiUNWksHJ1MtSw43Hs2yRSV0qoEulDu3LtmWlrsyATImChL4leYBLjBlI50K6jNQWXzaaXvo9DqrbbF0wY-gPCTopabkBfOqpEm-FEwUr8dEm8/s1168/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on_Dec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1128" height="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvo_E0nXPAoA7B7stB6vLpjuGvv73vdDTtNh8rw7mYBxqKCYeBqHwQguuURPZ-qkVxX1qo89hj1J3YxXiUNWksHJ1MtSw43Hs2yRSV0qoEulDu3LtmWlrsyATImChL4leYBLjBlI50K6jNQWXzaaXvo9DqrbbF0wY-gPCTopabkBfOqpEm-FEwUr8dEm8/w676-h700/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on_Dec.jpg" width="676" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Sparkling Spitalfields, Christmas crafts and a warming cuppa – coming up in December</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our December walk </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Saturday 9th December, 11.00am</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>Join us for a a bracing walk and exploration of Spitalfields </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">Meet at: Aldgate East Tube Station</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Following the sparkling talk by Tessa in November, we have an opportunity to check out what we know, and can follow-up, about the local Huguenots. Bring along any information, maps, guides or anecdotes you may have and curate a history trail around Spitalfields. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Of course, there will be shops and stalls brimming with tempting crafts and gifts, and coffee shops to enjoy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our December meeting: Christmas crafts</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thursday 14th December</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>7 for 7.30pm start </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our December Monthly meeting will be on the evening of the second Thursday of the month on 14th December - the same day as the Tower Hamlets Community Tea Dance if anyone is going there too. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">This is our chance to create some seasonal crafts and impress friends, family and neighbours, if you want to! Sally, Bridget and Lydia will host some craft tables, and if you have some ideas/tips, do share them on the night.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: St Margaret's House, 15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</span></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Our December coffee morning </span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b style="color: #990000; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Friday 29th December</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>meet between 10.30am and 11am</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Grounded cafe in Bow: 92 Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA Near Bow Church Station</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>National WI news:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Coming soon (launching in January 2024): </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the WI Learning Hub</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lifelong learning has always been at the very heart of the WI and it will celebrate the International Day of Education on Wednesday 24 January 2024 by inviting WI members to join for the launch of the WI Learning Hub. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The WI Learning Hub will provide WI members with access to a range of online courses, with an array of formats, both live and pre-recorded, and the majority of them will be free. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">For more information, join the learning hub mailing list via the main <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk" target="_blank">WI website</a>.</span></span></div></div>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-89831749907209860692023-11-19T10:00:00.001+00:002023-11-19T10:00:41.863+00:00Our November talk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtQ4Epb8ff84an4P1yL_8I4SdiIliAGNwmsLCA1qCMN5ObTJzexAtW2T6NucXh-sfi3URduZgOX16zJguhaFO5N0mpqAImjhPa7jQ4yDU5RGUn5g-3E5QbQW4WzO6pjT1D4ITTbMBkTrkeUj9V3t5udJCntNpJFWMTTK1XmUNH_scCvl_tw36RpS8DyI/s1873/EEWI%20Nov%20meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="1128" height="1095" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtQ4Epb8ff84an4P1yL_8I4SdiIliAGNwmsLCA1qCMN5ObTJzexAtW2T6NucXh-sfi3URduZgOX16zJguhaFO5N0mpqAImjhPa7jQ4yDU5RGUn5g-3E5QbQW4WzO6pjT1D4ITTbMBkTrkeUj9V3t5udJCntNpJFWMTTK1XmUNH_scCvl_tw36RpS8DyI/w660-h1095/EEWI%20Nov%20meeting.jpg" width="660" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial;">Huguenots – so much more that we expected</span></span></b><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Our President, Heather, writes:</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"Tessa Murdoch, the Acting Chair of the <a href="https://huguenotmuseum.org" target="_blank">Huguenot Museum in Rochester</a> entertained and enlightened us about another part of the rich history of our area. Whilst most of us may be familiar with the Huguenots of Spitalfields, their presence in well-known areas such as Princelet Street, and their reputation as skilled weavers, Tessa illustrated the breadth of their contribution to our society through examples of some of the wonderful gold and silverware, clocks, furniture and artefacts which they created; the community support groups; friendly societies; the educational and training structures they embedded in the community, and alerted us to familiar but remarkable architecture of some grand buildings which we owe to them. Perhaps surprising are the names, such as Courtauld, David Garrick, Lawrence Olivier, Wallace (the Collection), Mountbatten, which all have their connections with these skilled and creative arrivals, and some of our group may be curious to explore their ancestry as a result! We were also reminded that they settled in many different places, including Rochester, so we can be on the lookout for their contributions to society and culture as we travel about.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We now know that Rochester is only a short train ride away so I feel we might well be making a trip for a walk and museum trip in the spring."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Pictures of the evening by Diana; historical pictures from Tessa's presentation.</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our November coffee morning: Friday 24th November</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Join us for a playful cuppa at the <a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/young" target="_blank">Young V&A</a> museum, meet between 10.30am and 11am, Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA.</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-10761466457005591942023-11-11T17:39:00.001+00:002023-11-11T17:39:30.909+00:00Our November walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7bM6dKnCWqzCaIRx6MgqpbeyEsyaKfiHHxJpPTDNffPJKqqO_G1C4SrvxMlHLHTqbIWnMohLQ7U52SRqzdbsCHjQ-9QLJpqgY2BTLMlBl3NT6ofvx7IBmf2vVNQnx8hE9baRqnkaX4ZpsnV2BGwAE12HULxMeUOF7lyML2vKsi-F0k-lyO525aVLqs/s3946/Nov%2023%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3946" data-original-width="1128" height="2388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr7bM6dKnCWqzCaIRx6MgqpbeyEsyaKfiHHxJpPTDNffPJKqqO_G1C4SrvxMlHLHTqbIWnMohLQ7U52SRqzdbsCHjQ-9QLJpqgY2BTLMlBl3NT6ofvx7IBmf2vVNQnx8hE9baRqnkaX4ZpsnV2BGwAE12HULxMeUOF7lyML2vKsi-F0k-lyO525aVLqs/w679-h2388/Nov%2023%20walk.jpg" width="679" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Following the footsteps of Gandhi – our November walk</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When staying at Kingsley Hall, Gandhi was said to take regular dawn walks to Plaistow, along what's now the Greenway. So following our October talk on Gandhi, we decided to do the walk in reverse for November, starting at Plaistow station.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Somewhat later than dawn... but accidentally made authentically-solo by trips and transport closures leading to only one of us being able to make it, I walked the route for anyone wanting to follow it another time:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">From Plaistow station, I turned along Upper Road to meet the Greenway, a walking and cycling route above the Northern Outfall Sewer, built by Joseph Bazalgette to solve the <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/archive/collections/photographs/the-great-stink/" target="_blank">Great Stink</a> of 1858. Before the magnificent Abbey Mills Pumping Station (known as the Cathedral of Sewage) there's a panorama of urban nature at the Channelsea river. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I left the Greenway at Abbey Lane Open Space and walked towards Three Mills Green and Three Mills, where there are three artworks on <a href="https://the-line.org" target="_blank">The Line</a> sculpture trail. You might recognise the landscape from Masterchef, which has been based at the film studios there.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Crossing under the main road, my walk continued through the pretty Bob's Park by Bromley-by-Bow Centre and round to <a href="https://khccc.com/about-us.html" target="_blank">Kingsley Hall</a>, now a church and community centre, where Gandhi stayed on visits to London in a simple room on the top floor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A diversion round development works took me past the beautiful Drapers' Almshouses. Then, at Bow Road, a view of the church before the open exhibition at the <a href="https://bowarts.org/nunnery-gallery/" target="_blank">Nunnery Gallery</a> and a visit to the Bow Arts café.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>The walk was just under three miles and took roughly an hour – without our usual chat and pauses to look at things, so allow longer for a walk with friends or family. Other café options are Three Mills, open on Sundays and during events, and Root/25 on Bow Road.</i></span></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fancy joining us for a walk? Look out for our next 'coming up' blogpost.</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-86649350201507276462023-11-03T23:36:00.000+00:002023-11-03T23:36:24.904+00:00Coming up in November<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzC9E7O_AuoowvfzmQSjO7IkjyOxAkinabaCVzwQi7CQ32yH_8LQaRhu-MEdPFTfLO5-kk2_rzloUsIIrfEF_FHNA3cRz9v_s0BytYvRFOPue7R1t3mT8gsPTUpzuSB_QxfSBaeo-iMHlzE58JlgClz7FPf8dfE7792lBDHYx15CERLGhJk5oUWRLhKM/s1447/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on_Nov.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1447" data-original-width="1128" height="848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzC9E7O_AuoowvfzmQSjO7IkjyOxAkinabaCVzwQi7CQ32yH_8LQaRhu-MEdPFTfLO5-kk2_rzloUsIIrfEF_FHNA3cRz9v_s0BytYvRFOPue7R1t3mT8gsPTUpzuSB_QxfSBaeo-iMHlzE58JlgClz7FPf8dfE7792lBDHYx15CERLGhJk5oUWRLhKM/w660-h848/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on_Nov.jpg" width="660" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Following Gandhi's footsteps, the rich tapestry of local history and a playful cuppa </b></span></p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Our November Walk: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Join us for a walk following the footsteps of Gandhi on </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Saturday 11th November at 10.30 am. </span></b><b style="font-family: arial;">Meet at Plaistow Station</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Following our October speaker, we took our cue from the man himself. Gandhi apparently started at dawn for a regular walk to Plaistow along the Sewerbank, now known as the Greenway. If we go in reverse, meet at Plaistow and make our way back towards Kingsley Hall via Three Mills it is about 2.5 miles and 57 mins according to the maps. Or just a few minutes more and we can have a coffee at Bow Arts – plenty of art on show as well as the café.</span></p><p><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our November talk: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Huguenots, with Tessa Murdoch. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday 16th October, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">7pm for 7.30pm start </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The talk will open up another layer of the tapestry of our rich local history – the Huguenots. Bring along any of your own insights to share. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tessa Murdoch, an expert on Huguenot history is coming to talk to us about the Huguenots in London during the 17th and 18th Centuries. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tessa will speak about Britain's first refugees: the Huguenot Communities in London up to 1760.</span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tessa is also currently Acting Chair of the <a href="https://huguenotmuseum.org" target="_blank">Huguenot Museum</a>, Rochester and has forty years curatorial experience at the Museum of London (1981-1990) and the V&A (1990-2021). </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd, London E2 9PL. </span><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial;">If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our November coffee morning: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday 24th November, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Young V&A museum, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">meet between 10.30am and 11am</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Time to get inside the <a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/young" target="_blank">Young V&A</a> to explore. After the grand re-opening, the recent half term and before Christmas! </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Join us for a playful cuppa. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 30, 32); color: #1d1e20; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA.</span></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-63417828148935604842023-10-20T18:58:00.000+01:002023-10-20T18:58:39.498+01:00Our October talk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIy5DkRVk1H4bzr3AXkCAexLFKuqMumO0aEcP3iA2OZIHS5gvHls4Fc-oRLMyz-_mys1fLUWTEFTvlEZU6PKwAzpNoddIKKDl3fuTCKNBmdgAjU6moBxRElJ-ZAT3KIbl1bAuI0iBDpSibl8gGPolvnxYuHTQArEh9ue2TEfTUEptUwtiY8cvziJYcPA/s2874/EEWI%20Oct%20meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="1128" height="1677" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIy5DkRVk1H4bzr3AXkCAexLFKuqMumO0aEcP3iA2OZIHS5gvHls4Fc-oRLMyz-_mys1fLUWTEFTvlEZU6PKwAzpNoddIKKDl3fuTCKNBmdgAjU6moBxRElJ-ZAT3KIbl1bAuI0iBDpSibl8gGPolvnxYuHTQArEh9ue2TEfTUEptUwtiY8cvziJYcPA/w660-h1677/EEWI%20Oct%20meeting.jpg" width="660" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial;">Gandhi and the Sisters – a talk by Peter Popham</span></span></b><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">We knew a bit about Gandhi. We have Kingsley Hall on our doorstep, where he stayed. But in this talk by </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Peter Popham, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">author and former foreign correspondent at The Independent, we heard of connections and complexities that we'd had no idea existed.</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gandhi was, of course, hugely famous – so famous that Charlie Chaplin wanted to meet him to discuss fame. Except that Gandhi didn't watch films so he had no idea who he was...</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born on the coast of Gujarat to the shopkeeping caste and married to Kasturba, he left for London to study</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> law, becoming a suited and booted figure very different from the images we recognise now. His wife had been reluctant to let him go, worried about moral pollution, and made him vow that he would remain celibate, vegetarian and steer clear of alcohol.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Three years here changed him. He was influenced by Emmeline Pankhurst, Annie Besant (who was an active campaigner for Indian home rule), poet </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Sarojini Naidu, later Governor of Uttar Pradesh, and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">other female thinkers, their work remarkable here but unthinkable in India at the time. He remained a devout Hindu but fused it with Victorian liberalism.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On graduation, unable to get work in India, he answered the call of a friend in South Africa who needed a Gujarati and English speaking lawyer to settle a dispute. His experiences there made him determined to fight with non-violence the discrimination he experienced. He became Secretary of the British-Indian Association of Transvaal and convinced that empowering women was a way to change society, among his closest associates were women, including a fellow lawyer and a woman who would become his personal doctor and later, Minister of Health. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back in India, there followed the Salt March, against a tax on what had been a free resource. Only at the end of the march did the Viceroy have him arrested and jailed. His followers on the march included Sarojini Naidu. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gandhi was invited to Lancashire by mill owners keen to show him that a boycott he had organised had created hardship there. In a photograph from that trip was another influential British woman, the daughter of an admiral and one of his closest disciples for 20 years.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More ambiguous was his relationship after the death of his wife with young Manuben Gandhi, who he and his wife had brought up as a granddaughter. She travelled with him as his organiser, attendant and letter-writer and she kept a diary chronicling her life and Gandhi's last years. They also shared a bed, about which Gandhi was open. The nature of this was unclear but there was widespread disapproval at the time.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Gandhi's route to non-violent independence for India was far from straightforward and partition broke his heart. He was shot dead on his way to his daily prayer meeting. There was a huge funeral procession.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It was a thought-provoking talk and there was a lively Q&A. Peter also told us about his book, <i><a href="https://www.camphorpress.com/books/india-be-damned-a-novel-of-partition/" target="_blank">India be Damned</a></i>, a thriller based on these events.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A big thank you to Peter for a fascinating talk. </span></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our October Coffee Morning: Friday 27th October at 10.30 am</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Continuing the book theme, this month we're meeting at Root/25, a coffee house with books, arts and community space where all profits go to Restless Beings' charity projects. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Root/25, 116B Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA.</span></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>News of Middlesex Federation's craft workshops</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Also at our meeting, member Christine showed some silk painting she'd been doing at a Middlesex Federation workshop. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">To find out more about their upcoming workshops, head </span><a href="https://mfwi.org.uk/craft/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: arial;">.</span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVUwZ8tKGXWD3RBWVcLKGLv9Tk8kCSpKZnECgof5F0O_5jsXVbyDvLw1szwgTekqeseqSHqEwbbOrStLFEOJJLrlavrpr8IYuciaR6W8JsR1FWgX6T-0IxikJLy8oGSRr00-oNf5p5jP-l8WPHWXVW0GnczQ-SsKE86Jp7V-09o3b_o2W0gX4BGXWKuk/s1128/EEWI%20Oct%20meeting%20Christine%20silk%20painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1128" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVUwZ8tKGXWD3RBWVcLKGLv9Tk8kCSpKZnECgof5F0O_5jsXVbyDvLw1szwgTekqeseqSHqEwbbOrStLFEOJJLrlavrpr8IYuciaR6W8JsR1FWgX6T-0IxikJLy8oGSRr00-oNf5p5jP-l8WPHWXVW0GnczQ-SsKE86Jp7V-09o3b_o2W0gX4BGXWKuk/w657-h329/EEWI%20Oct%20meeting%20Christine%20silk%20painting.jpg" width="657" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Interested to join us? Look out for our next Coming up post for news of November's walk, meeting and coffee morning.</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-56368850948846517992023-10-14T21:50:00.000+01:002023-10-14T21:50:47.870+01:00Our October walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Uqj8YnrXl5rGGmSGQS5nyjquuAtOtFYUjJlAMa_VKVSvJNo9jStZaZVPCKMbQUucQhXa8mG4DpLcKEn1FS4uVe4YHjfg8WFa4rf2sRdwWYEuz9BkhvbsT-vF4m_hB0SVKJzo_6fi1SkqUu7vh141O45JUgunA0czwxNlVo2RCmm9uLzkWpq6SvqPyIs/s2436/Oct%2023%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2436" data-original-width="1128" height="1472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Uqj8YnrXl5rGGmSGQS5nyjquuAtOtFYUjJlAMa_VKVSvJNo9jStZaZVPCKMbQUucQhXa8mG4DpLcKEn1FS4uVe4YHjfg8WFa4rf2sRdwWYEuz9BkhvbsT-vF4m_hB0SVKJzo_6fi1SkqUu7vh141O45JUgunA0czwxNlVo2RCmm9uLzkWpq6SvqPyIs/w681-h1472/Oct%2023%20walk.jpg" width="681" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>A leafy loop in Enfield – our October walk</b></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Inviting us outside our normal urban stamping ground, our member Christine showed us Enfield's historic heart – lanes like steps back in time, buildings with stories, lush, peaceful river walks and pretty parks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Looking at an artwork by Wendy Taylor, we learned that sundials' time differs from Greenwich Mean Time by several minutes, and at Enfield Town station, a plaque tells of the school on its site where Keats was educated.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A soup lunch at the library café was so delicious that I forgot to photograph it. And that this late-running straggler was not just shepherded digitally to the group but the walk's prettiest bits were retraced speaks of the friendliness of our walks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Fancy joining us for the next one? Look out for our 'Coming up' blogposts.</i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-32187423373475759242023-10-05T18:09:00.001+01:002023-10-09T22:51:55.735+01:00Coming up in October<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlmq7aa1kq7TQ5n8zrT1iI31kkiJjj4IMiXw-pU7BMTXY_zrGZSEVUp2lW1meV8Gk945Cm5ACWyOw2Q8Sfl8wXb8YSbkEiOFGe5CgiCxFRA8khUgfP0BFkTvEgYm0KW0zto2_fiR7ZzQ6h7lSRuCkQ2MoA1ak7sF16vqLjw9bBYhkejum-lCl9eSZQvU/s1128/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on%20Oct%20rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1128" height="662" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlmq7aa1kq7TQ5n8zrT1iI31kkiJjj4IMiXw-pU7BMTXY_zrGZSEVUp2lW1meV8Gk945Cm5ACWyOw2Q8Sfl8wXb8YSbkEiOFGe5CgiCxFRA8khUgfP0BFkTvEgYm0KW0zto2_fiR7ZzQ6h7lSRuCkQ2MoA1ak7sF16vqLjw9bBYhkejum-lCl9eSZQvU/w664-h662/EEWI%20Oct%20what's%20on%20Oct%20rev.jpg" width="664" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Coming up in October: Enfield footpaths, the Gandhi and the sisters and coffee and books in Bow</b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our October walk: Saturday 14th October at 11.00 am. Meet at Enfield Town Overground station</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now part of Greater London, Enfield is an old market town, characterised by a charming network of footpaths lined by historic buildings and following the historic New River loop.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The walk will include highlights from The Enfield Society’s heritage walk and a loop through the town park. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">It's an easy walk of about an hour, with toilet stops en route. </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Be prepared for whatever the weather will bring. Always lots of time for chat and catching up, and there will, no doubt, be a coffee stop.</span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Overground takes about 30 mins; two trains per hour. The 10.26am train from Liverpool Street arrives at Enfield Town at 11.05am.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(180, 95, 6); font-family: arial;">Our October talk: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday 19 October 7.00pm for 7.30pm start – Gandhi and the Sisters, by </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Peter Popham </span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>To recognise Black History Month, we have a talk from Peter Popham, who has</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> worked as a foreign correspondent, including in Albania and Mongolia, and spent time undercover in Burma. He is also an author </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and playwright. Peter writes:</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>"Mahatma Gandhi had a succession of deep friendships with women: the beautiful suffragist Emmeline Pankhurst; Annie Besant, the social reformer who became the first president of the Indian National Congress. the poet and politician Sarojini Naidu, whom Gandhi called 'the nightingale of India.' Later, Madeleine Slade, daughter of a British admiral, became his most devoted disciple. And in his last years his 19-year-old grand-niece Manu, became his constant companion, both awake and asleep.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>In my talk, illustrated with a PowerPoint slide show, I will discuss how Gandhi's ideas of non-violent revolution evolved through these stimulating and varied relationships, which culminated with India attaining independence without a shot fired."</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House,</span><span style="font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PL.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</span></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our October Coffee Morning: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday 27th October </span><span style="font-family: arial;">at 10.30 am</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Join us for an informal cuppa – we're exploring as many different, interesting cafes as we can find in a year! </span><span style="font-family: arial;">As it is half term, we have chosen an off the beaten track venue, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Root/25, a </span><span style="font-family: arial;">coffee house, arts and community space </span><span style="font-family: arial;">where all profits go to Restless Beings' charity projects. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Root/25, 116B Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA.</span></i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-63066988783384267202023-09-24T19:47:00.002+01:002023-09-24T20:45:14.752+01:00Our September meeting<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDl3ve70kUBj-6Sifbb4zSYMyoru0pjWcG8kr40gQN5zCTVu4Q5nLOdhCeQD9AyyBFpwb23BX3TQjHO486Db0qd0rghmTvPTiibEzUVt8Lx9P4t9IrKL09LC0FHDnHlxP2pWymexP7m2L_BSOMBJL8Qks8gsOx2aH4M5rxgWiksGlrE8CmXgzzhpPURc/s2430/EEWI%20Sept%20meeting.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2430" data-original-width="1128" height="1435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDl3ve70kUBj-6Sifbb4zSYMyoru0pjWcG8kr40gQN5zCTVu4Q5nLOdhCeQD9AyyBFpwb23BX3TQjHO486Db0qd0rghmTvPTiibEzUVt8Lx9P4t9IrKL09LC0FHDnHlxP2pWymexP7m2L_BSOMBJL8Qks8gsOx2aH4M5rxgWiksGlrE8CmXgzzhpPURc/w668-h1435/EEWI%20Sept%20meeting.jpg" width="668" /></a></p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Into the fold – an evening of Origami with Vanessa, our September meeting</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our President, Heather, writes:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"Despite the deluge, a plucky group made it to our (rather leaky) hall for a stimulating evening of Origami. Many thanks to Elizabeth for introducing us to Vanessa. Her work with all ages and abilities put her in a good position to introduce us to several charming creations. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">First up was a lovely 'envelope' with a pleated corner – perfect for a greeting or even a small 'enclosure' as my grandmother used to describe a gift of folded money or even a single premium bond certificate! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The next item built on our initial skills of making folding guidelines to produce a circular decoration. The final piece was a very appealing stork with wings that flapped – some more elegantly than others! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The pictures can hardly do justice to the concentration, dexterity and fun that went into the creations. There was plenty of co-operation – and occasional moments of competitiveness... </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We all have the written guidelines to practise at home, so be prepared for further examples emerging at future meetings."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><i>Pictures by Heather and Alison</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Coffee Morning: Friday 29th September, 10.30</span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With a reputation for outstanding food and great service, the renowned team of Limpet Baron and David Hughes are now running the <a href="https://raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk/ragged-cafe/" target="_blank">Ragged Café</a>, based at The Ragged School Museum. Uniquely situated by the Regent’s Canal at Mile End, it offers both indoor and outdoor settings. Join us to try out the café at this historic location. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Ragged School Museum, 46-50 Copperfield Road, E3 4RR. </i></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-70293452515897362752023-09-09T19:14:00.000+01:002023-09-09T19:14:16.378+01:00Our September walk<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Ll6Nt0Skg4uVpQc-oaAg3Qc9pOuCn_fM4ilP1e0rAFyS6QwchL2AhL6-EQoq9yuRbqTRkatEbG62Xt-cH6ABFtWOEonA1CSZ4djhhKiHuo33_pi9N5JO1lHClKyM9i-DRIzokwf0hfMys6gicy12Qe8L3EOBal-6XOEqSBFfOv2jHf_y9LeIo2rL88/s3902/EEWI%20Sept%20walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3902" data-original-width="1128" height="2340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-Ll6Nt0Skg4uVpQc-oaAg3Qc9pOuCn_fM4ilP1e0rAFyS6QwchL2AhL6-EQoq9yuRbqTRkatEbG62Xt-cH6ABFtWOEonA1CSZ4djhhKiHuo33_pi9N5JO1lHClKyM9i-DRIzokwf0hfMys6gicy12Qe8L3EOBal-6XOEqSBFfOv2jHf_y9LeIo2rL88/w680-h2340/EEWI%20Sept%20walk.jpg" width="680" /></a> </p><p><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Histories, ballet, jazz, selfies, sculpture and sunshine – our September walk in Woolwich</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">On a scorching Saturday, we ambled to Woolwich Arsenal to explore its parks and riverside. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We peered into a window of the new Acosta Dance Centre, formerly a military academy and officers' mess – and found ourselves peering back from a dance studio mirror. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We followed the sound of a jazz rehearsal upstairs in Woolwich Works and were invited to look at a joyous family costume and props workshop by The Hundred Club x RESOLVE. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We pondered women's work at the munitions factories, new parks and the intricacies of London brickwork. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We spotted the Woolwich Ferry back in action. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We admired a sculpture that looks like a Gormley but isn't (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">Assembly</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> by Peter Burke) and a sculpture of Nike (which, thanks to a plaque, we now know how to pronounce properly – <i>Nee-kay</i>), a gift to the people of London for the 2012 Olympics. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">We took triple selfies of all of us taking a triple selfie. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And we went to the beach. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">All in Woolwich.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Fancy joining us on a walk? Look out for the next 'Coming up' blogpost.</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-2455555174368931472023-09-02T18:32:00.001+01:002023-09-02T18:32:24.679+01:00Coming up in September<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaH5CcJ-NANlxGeD61zQ_hPgyRNLdK0ZGJY2iXaQFu4ydN7IC_Vx-ZOfwrTvdDryKfVF1tlZweUOGDU_fx19ZI8tu9-xLGGAmRXFV7Zi9i4G3QdUUTLXzz2tGPh44rJAvPQHce4OfJCZn6baGe64_e_TDIkApBD4f1BxDpKOkwcb043n6U-qe69QItPQ/s1439/EEWI%20Sept%20what's%20on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1128" height="848" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaH5CcJ-NANlxGeD61zQ_hPgyRNLdK0ZGJY2iXaQFu4ydN7IC_Vx-ZOfwrTvdDryKfVF1tlZweUOGDU_fx19ZI8tu9-xLGGAmRXFV7Zi9i4G3QdUUTLXzz2tGPh44rJAvPQHce4OfJCZn6baGe64_e_TDIkApBD4f1BxDpKOkwcb043n6U-qe69QItPQ/w666-h848/EEWI%20Sept%20what's%20on.jpg" width="666" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>A walk on the wild side, adventures in paper and canalside coffee – coming up in September</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #e69138;">Our monthly walk: </span></b></span><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;"><b>Saturday 9th September,11.00 </b></span><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;">Woolwich/ Maribor Parks. </b><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Meet at Woolwich Arsenal station (DLR) for something completely different</span> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Stroll through the Woolwich Park and/or the Maribor Park, and wander towards the river. Did you know there is Woolwich foot tunnel as well as the free ferry? Latest news is that the ferry is out of operation as are the lifts for the tunnel (100+) steps. So, the option to test which is quicker may not appeal, and we may decide to enjoy the river bank instead!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Our monthly meeting: </span></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #e69138;">Thursday 21st September, 7 for 7.30pm start – </span></b><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial;">Origami</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fold up that paper and create something delicate with Vanessa Brightwell, who has been involved in the Mill Community running lots of art classes of different sorts. She will be leading us in the delicate art and no doubt we will all have something to treasure and take home!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House, </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PL. </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial;">If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</i></span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Coffee Morning: Friday 29th September, 10.30</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With a reputation for outstanding food and great service, the renowned team of Limpet Baron and David Hughes are now running the Ragged café, based at The Ragged School Museum. Uniquely situated by the Regent’s Canal at Mile End, it offers both indoor and outdoor settings. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Join us to try out the café at this historic location</span></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk" target="_blank">Ragged School Museum</a>, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">46-50 Copperfield Road, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">E3 4RR</span></span></i></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-41161272061807748722023-08-20T10:27:00.003+01:002023-08-20T10:30:12.435+01:00Our August meeting<p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcOYa-V5uIEYTWtAZX0gRzgRxtUp4HzwKfnVxPQ3X4PPTybE1Iqa-kkFdc7-36itDtEkXmpOpqVwqHg7edEUKjyF3Bi8F7vrDgK-UPMvPivaZYSqY9-SJr5GTz1pCRMW3AAf3LYSBOrfMUpjpRo5dRM0iGT7EcmSRdGt_YxDXWTFLd3TSYa2qe13ZDeU/s1300/EEWI%20Aug%20meeting%2023.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1128" height="753" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcOYa-V5uIEYTWtAZX0gRzgRxtUp4HzwKfnVxPQ3X4PPTybE1Iqa-kkFdc7-36itDtEkXmpOpqVwqHg7edEUKjyF3Bi8F7vrDgK-UPMvPivaZYSqY9-SJr5GTz1pCRMW3AAf3LYSBOrfMUpjpRo5dRM0iGT7EcmSRdGt_YxDXWTFLd3TSYa2qe13ZDeU/w654-h753/EEWI%20Aug%20meeting%2023.jpg" width="654" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Enormous sunhats, family photos and impossible rock – our Summer childhood show and tell</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our President, Heather, writes:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">"With plenty of Pimms (which comes with at least one of our 5-a-day portions of fruit and veg!), strawberries, meringues and cake, we had an evening of summer recollections. Although the WI fi did not support the full blast needed to hear our summer song favourites, we did at least share a list of them and even sang a few scattered lines!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The Show and Tell produced some of the odd items that we used to collect as the obligatory souvenirs: curious shells with links to faraway and nearby places – Hayling Island for example; sticks of impossible to eat (or enjoy?) rock with the name all the way through. Even when they came in small pieces, I doubt that many were actually consumed. Huge sun hats were part of the created memory of sunny summers, and how we differently experienced the season. Some just got through it. Others seem to have had the best of it with access to beach huts - quite a luxury then and even more so now.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The photos of us as children raised some interesting conversations about how we have kept - or lost track of - those old photos. Who in the family gets to keep the old albums? It took some guesswork to match them to our current selves. With a lovely range of shots we had to make use of the clues – from beautifully posed studio classics to atmospheric holiday snaps at stately homes and our gardens; places as far apart as Wales, France, Hong Kong and Egypt; and props such as camels, a teddy bear fancy dress costume, capacious and stylish jodhpurs; the period knitwear and dainty frocks with puff sleeves; the black and white compared to the introduction of colour.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our small lives must have included hazards, as memories of TCP, Germolene and such like crept in, and not everyone's childhood was a sunny fairy tale, but we could leave our friendly, sociable evening with a piece of comforting cake and I trust everyone arrived home safely!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was time to share family tales - enjoying blackberrying and the unforgettable blackberry and apple crumbles that followed. Also, does every family have a story of unorthodox and unauthorised home haircuts? I am sure there will be continuing conversations.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Plus...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A very enthusiastic recommendation for a female artist came up – Alice Kettle. Textile Artist. Free exhibition, '<a href="https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/whats-on/to-boldly-sew-alice-kettle" target="_blank">To Boldly Sew</a>' at 99 Bishopsgate and 30 Fenchurch Street. 5th July - 29th September. Very highly recommended."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our August Coffee Morning: Friday 25 August, 10.30am – Blu Ivy Cafe</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"></span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Block C, 24 Stoneway Walk, Globe Town, London E3 5SH, off the Old Ford Road within Bow Wharf where the Hertford Union Canal meets the Regent’s Canal. 277 bus nearby; nearest tube Mile End.</span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-70036727218477607572023-08-12T19:39:00.001+01:002023-08-12T19:39:55.356+01:00Our August walk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi72T8vTFov5eYOh_IIIFwHVNX033Zy-rACnyPMZXaG6d6HcuT3vU-k6LHuIXk67w3ndJ1NBwA-RKsBcSfE4J7dl26VSDb8PRe6pisAbFOl4kcC61nYtrpWbX5S_SpXcDcqJCnHw4ltYan_yUT4zXpgmgNidquWjagUzOmYqVGG9MdxzhJGRVHBFpxAtU/s3935/EEWI%20Aug%20walk%2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3935" data-original-width="1128" height="2359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi72T8vTFov5eYOh_IIIFwHVNX033Zy-rACnyPMZXaG6d6HcuT3vU-k6LHuIXk67w3ndJ1NBwA-RKsBcSfE4J7dl26VSDb8PRe6pisAbFOl4kcC61nYtrpWbX5S_SpXcDcqJCnHw4ltYan_yUT4zXpgmgNidquWjagUzOmYqVGG9MdxzhJGRVHBFpxAtU/w678-h2359/EEWI%20Aug%20walk%2023.jpg" width="678" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Monumental stories, towering trees, ghost signs, Edgar Allan Poe, ducks, stained glass and a policewoman's hat – our August walk</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We headed up to Stoke Newington this month for a walk full of stories... starting with Abney Park Cemetery, where there was magnificence but we were as interested by smaller stories, fashions in names and the language of memorial masonry. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Stoke Newington Church Street showed us ghost signs (Fount pen repair, anyone?) and a bust of Edgar Allan Poe on the site of Manor House School, where he was a pupil. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">At Clissold Park, we paused at the wildflower planting to enjoy the cornflower blue, and admired a stylish wedding on our way to lunch at the café. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Back on Church Street, we explored St Mary's Stoke Newington which, unusually, is two churches – the Gothic revival New Church and over the road, the Old Church.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Then, to the fire station, where there was an open day, much fun being had by small children with enormous fire engine hoses and a police stall, where we discovered that policewomen's hats have rigid crowns and were given key ring torches to take home.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><i>Fancy joining us at one of our walks? They're on the second Saturday of each month – look out for our Coming Up blogposts to find out more.</i></span></span></div>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-60079858265166545872023-07-22T19:22:00.000+01:002023-07-22T19:22:33.543+01:00Coming up in August<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVg2_XeziQUXAxr45l4-KhSnIGSU6dS7oVYmQfC0wUuVCGtuJYfIVU-QwkUnoCy1oIJ-FKiJMIj-wvoYD4cF6l1MFA4-YRkAtey2PQdhXc5Nz4PZ-TiibwV1N6JKykJpZKc374denU05wY5UrmpD-NgCFMqiqw2rVNDVI0IGFlmAgOiAFsrlLtStV8u8/s1558/EEWI%20Aug%20what's%20on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1128" height="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVg2_XeziQUXAxr45l4-KhSnIGSU6dS7oVYmQfC0wUuVCGtuJYfIVU-QwkUnoCy1oIJ-FKiJMIj-wvoYD4cF6l1MFA4-YRkAtey2PQdhXc5Nz4PZ-TiibwV1N6JKykJpZKc374denU05wY5UrmpD-NgCFMqiqw2rVNDVI0IGFlmAgOiAFsrlLtStV8u8/w682-h940/EEWI%20Aug%20what's%20on.jpg" width="682" /></a></div><br /><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">Magnificence in Stoke Newington, a picnic, a Summer celebration and a canal café – coming up in August</span></b></p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Our August walk: </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;">Saturday 12th August, 11.30am – </b><b style="font-family: arial;">Abney Park Cemetery and Clissold Park</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Join us for a walk and picnic (bring your own) or buy your lunch from the Clissold Park Cafe. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Meet at Stoke Newington Overground (four stops from Cambridge Heath) or the 276 bus stops nearby. Find out more about the cemetery <a href="https://abneypark.org" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our August meeting: Thursday 17th August, 7pm for 7.30pm start – Celebration of Summer</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We'll provide the Pimms, Elderflower cordial, strawberries and nibbles.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Share your happy memories of Summers past! </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bring along a photo of you as a child and we can see if we can guess who’s who…</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, perhaps, an object that reminds you of Summer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Got a favourite summer song or tune? Tell us and we will endeavour to play it for you!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We will be at our usual venue: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">St Margaret's House, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">15 Old Ford Rd., London E2 9PL. </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: arial;">If the gate is locked when you arrive at St Margaret’s House, there will be a call bell on the right hand side at the back of the gate.</i></span></p><p><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our August</span> <span style="font-family: arial;">Coffee Morning: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday 25 August, 10.30am –</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Blu Ivy Cafe</span></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Block C, 24 Stoneway Walk, Globe Town, London E3 5SH, off the Old Ford Road </span><span style="font-family: arial;">within Bow Wharf where the Hertford Union Canal meets </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Regent’s Canal. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">277 bus nearby; nearest tube Mile End. <i>Pictured: their luscious Instagram feed.</i></span></span></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7563616579578632300.post-56015940862239253192023-07-22T18:45:00.000+01:002023-07-22T18:45:23.864+01:00Our July talk<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxrOBEJsXH5FjFguqIu2Eu_Go_5Ppn-eA9H-1ggv7s0PxLW9wOYhln9qjdt41E-HALG9O0IwnGHZsMhChA3KsHEzQidNDqAKp7IsQ0RGxt30aGHTqwZ98bGLJBzm4aKPHAaJT8ekSpH8eaeLVeTg-kAisnWfgOHyjmuKZMs46diyoWpTzm4ZH3rKIlKk/s1397/EEWI%20July%20meeting%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1397" data-original-width="1128" height="820" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxrOBEJsXH5FjFguqIu2Eu_Go_5Ppn-eA9H-1ggv7s0PxLW9wOYhln9qjdt41E-HALG9O0IwnGHZsMhChA3KsHEzQidNDqAKp7IsQ0RGxt30aGHTqwZ98bGLJBzm4aKPHAaJT8ekSpH8eaeLVeTg-kAisnWfgOHyjmuKZMs46diyoWpTzm4ZH3rKIlKk/w661-h820/EEWI%20July%20meeting%202.jpg" width="661" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>Women's safety – our July talk</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ajay from Life Centric (soon to rebrand as My Personal Safety) brought along tips, stories and devices for an informal talk and discussion. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ajay's interest in personal safety came from discovering that if in fending off an attack, your attacker is injured, they can sue.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Safety tips included:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That statistically, the middle carriage of a train is the safest as it’s the most crowded</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not having valuables on show </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If making a call while out, having your back against a wall so that no-one can come up behind you</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Taking care when disposing of packaging of valuable items so that they don’t signal to burglars</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Walking in well-lit areas</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thinking through whether a parking space might be more isolated after dark</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Not wearing headphones, to stay aware of our surroundings</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If being followed, going into a shop to ask for help</span></span></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We discussed safety apps, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">self-defence versus running, reasonable force, online safety and the benefits and permission aspects of tracking.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> We raised the local issues of street theft, theft on public transport, crime on the canals and with knife crime common, concerns about intervening in an incident. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">With our group including a wide range of family and working knowledge, there were points and ideas contributed around opportunities to discuss safety with children and to involve young people in discussions about safety, in and out of school.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Ajay talked us through devices, from personal alarms through a combined safety device and poo bag dispenser for dog walkers to anti-spiking drinks covers, and warned against buying sprays online that might not be legal in the UK.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">A big thank you to Ajay for a lively evening giving us much to think about, and for the mobile power banks and personal alarms given out at the end of the session.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And special mentions for Heather's marvellous baking, the glorious fuchsias in the St Margaret's House courtyard and the cheeky fox cub that tried to join our meeting. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Our July coffee morning: Friday 28th July, 10.30am</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Meet us for coffee and treat yourself to a delicious cake or pastry at Boulangerie Jade near Victoria Park. There is an outdoor patio we can meet in if the weather is fine.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Boulangerie Jade, 79 Lauriston Road, Hackney, London E9 7HJ.</span></div></div></div><p></p>Lydiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09708889566189761421noreply@blogger.com0