All women welcome to EEWI's Christmas Market!

Yes. It's nearly here. Our EEWI Christmas Market is on Tuesday 3rd December, doors open at 7pm (free for members, £4 for visitors). A glass of mulled wine and a mince pie is included in the entrance fee, plus tea and coffee, and there will be lots of lovely stalls selling prettiness crafted by local makers. We'll be handing over our gifts to the ladies from U-Turn, and there will be a raffle too, with lots of lovely prizes. Tell your friends, bring you mum, aunties, sisters, print off a poster and put it in your window. And do come - we'd love to see you there.

what we did last week

Such a lovely evening we had, either sitting playing with ribbons and sequins and beads, or making willow stars and wands. This is Stacey's flower which wound round the neck of her cardi. There were lots more flowers and beads and sari silk.  And lots of stars and laughter too, though we didn't manage to capture those.

The loveliest thing of all, I feel, was the gentle industry of women making stuff, concentrating as they threaded beads, riffling among ribbons, admiring flashes of creativity, sharing gossip, encouraging their friends, laughing at the incongruity of waving willow wands and casting spells to send off our leading ladies with the very best wishes for sharing their skills.

Very many thanks to Barley Massey for coming along and showing us how to transform rags to riches, and to our lovely Karen for making magic with willow. And a special mention for Annie who wore her newly embellished little black dress on Friday for our coffee morning, another hour or so of delights.

You can visit Barley's shop, Fabrications, in Broadway Market for more inspiration, including classes of all sorts. We'll also be selling Barley's Rethinking Rubbish kits at our Christmas Market on 3rd December, more of which anon.

embellishing the little black dress

Feeling the pinch? Well, come along to our evening meeting next week, bring your little black dress and jazz it up with a bit of embellishment. You'll save a fortune. The lovely Barley Massey from Fabrications will be helping us to get snippy and sewy and add a little bit of loveliness to our party wardrobe. Barley will be bringing along some lovely recycled bits and bobs for us to use. All you have to do is get to work with needle and thread and a bit of imagination. Don't worry - your party outfit doesn't have to be black, or little, or even a dress. If you have something in your wardrobe that needs a bit of extra pzazz, you might prefer to work on that. Or maybe just make a little fancy to pin on your partywear.

We're meeting as usual at St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2 (just follow the signs on the gate next to the Gallery Cafe.) Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30 start. Free to members, £4 donation for visitors. Refreshments will be available and, as ever, you are invited to bring along any home-made goodness or snacks to share.

Our coffee morning will be on 22nd November from 10.30am at Paper and Cup at 83 St Paul's Way, E3 do think about joining us - no need to be a member. You just need to buy yourself a cup of tea/ coffee and settle down for a chat. It would be lovely to see you.

Lots of other activities coming up soon - check our Diary Dates for more info.

(And belated congratulations to the winners of our local history quiz and Country Living Christmas Fair tickets. Hope you enjoyed your prizes.)

Knit & Natter: Thursday

It's Knit & Natter time! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go. It's nearly Christmas time, so why not try your hand at making Christmas ornaments?

We'll be meeting this Thursday 24th of October from 6.30 – 8.30pm. 

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters. Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Country Living Christmas Fair

Congratulations to Regina and Marie who were the lucky winners in the draw thsi week for tickets for the Country Living Christmas Fair. With a wide range of quality stalls to browse, food stalls to sample and expert advice on hand, a day out at the Fair is a great way to start your Christmas Shopping and find inspiration for the festive season. There will also be some other exciting features this year, from a special performance by the West End's Jersey Boys at Thursday's Gala Evening, to inspiring talks and tastings in the Lifestyle Theatre. So embrace the atmosphere, discover a vast array of exhibitors and start ticking off that shopping list early. 

You'll find the Fair at the Islington Business Design Centre from 30th October until 3rd November. Details here. And members, don't forget, you can get a discount on tickets - check your newsletter, or email us for details.

an evening of miscellany

Our little local history group pulled no punches with the quiz they prepared for us after delving into the archives at Bishopsgate Institute.  It was a tough one, but with so much to learn about the East End. So thanks are due to Carolyn, Annie, Heather and local polymath and writer Linda Wilkinson who did the research, and to Afia Begum at the Institute who so ably facilitated the project. Well done, Barbara, Natasha and Rachel who were the top team. And thanks to those who brought along photos for us to see - I loved Karen's photos of her uncle's 60's wedding in Leyton.  If you could not get along on Tuesday, I have a few more copies of the quiz - with answers - tucked away for you.

We managed to fit a lot more in...   Lindsay Burns from Kid's Company told us about the wide range of work they undertake with and for troubled youngsters, including the project to support social enterprises set up by young people who have benefitted from the support of the charity. If you are interested in volunteering, check here. And if you know of a local organisation that might be interested in hearing about the project, let us know and we'll pass the information on.

At the end of the evening when things had quietened down, Martha from Shoreditch Sisters intereviewed me and Clare about East End WI. We may have been a bit gaga by that time, although Clare was very composed and sat there doing her knitting. You can tell for yourself if you listen in to Longwave Ladies radio shortly.

I'll be off next week to Tower Hamlets Foodbank with the toiletries that you donated. As ever, many thanks for your generosity. And if you missed out this time, we'll still be taking donations next month too. More of which shortly...

Enjoy Apple Day this weekend. Natasha and Elizabeth will be going along to the Friends of City Gardens Apple Day event on Saturday, 11.30am - 3pm, at Golden Lane Community Hall with a few cakes. If you're staying at home, you could always try baking a cake of your own to celebrate the days when there were orchards in Stepney Green...

where do you think you are?

How much do you know about the place where you live? A little while back, a small group of intrepid members spent several afternoons at Bishopsgate Institute researching the archives to find out more about the corner of East London where we live. This month we're going to be sharing some of that research with you. We have a quiz, one you might want to do with one or two of your EEWI buddies and, yes, there will be prizes. We'd love it too if you could share some of your memories or pictures of the place you live(d) with us too - somewhere you worked perhaps, jolly days out, where you went to school (we promise we'll take very good care of them.) So join us for an evening of exploration and memories. And because it's October, members can bring a friend for free. You may need some help with that quiz, you know.

We're meeting on Tuesday 15th October at St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, in the hall behind the Gallery Cafe, doors open at 7pm from a 7.30pm start. Free tea and coffee, other drinks and refreshments by donation. If you'd like to bring some cake or savouries to share that would be lovely. Gives you a chance to keep your hand in with the baking. We'll also be having a short talk from Jan O'Brien from Tower Hamlets Befriending Service. We'll also be collecting items for users of Tower Hamlets Foodbank - not food, but toiletries like shampoo, shower gel, toilet rolls, detergent etc.

If you fancy a bit of company over a cup of something, pop along to our coffee morning at 10.30am on Friday18th October.  We'll be meeting at The Larder in Globe Road, E2.

And if you fancy coming out one evening,  our bookclub meeting is on Tuesday 22nd (contact us for details), and Knit and Natter is at the Coborn Arms on Thursday 24th, 6.30pm - 8.30pm.

Hope to see you soon.

it's all a bit of a blur

You had to be there to understand.

Scottie from Swing Patrol* was a marvellous teacher - charming, patient and beautifully turned out.

And we tried really hard to shimmy. Feet flying, arms variously akimbo and up in the air.  When Julie sent me the photos she took she said they were a bit blurry, but I  don't think it was the light levels, we were just moving so fast. And it's still a bit of a blur. I mean, which foot went forward first, and when exactly did you have to put your arms up?

That was only one of the things we got our feet round in September. We served tea and cakes at Tea Dance in Queen Elizabeth Park with Laura and Adzove from  Forest Gate WI*. It rained, but as we were inside a pod made of recycled materials we only got wet when we ventured out to join the few intrepid dancers who managed to find us in the deluge.

We had a tea stall at Park Life where they just about managed to parade the lovely dogs before it rained again.

On the quiet days, we had coffee at Stepney City Farm, a lovely bookclub evening at Annie's, some knitting and nattering at the Coborn.

And then, we worked our socks off baking all week and running the tea stall  for two days at Countryside Live where we sold gallons of tea and mountains of cake until by late Sunday afternoon...

Massive thanks to everyone who made September so memorable, even if it went by in a flash - to all our talented and hardworking bakers and tea makers (you know who you are);' to Scott and Swing Patrol; to Sophie or inviting us to the tea dance; to the Friends of Mile End Park and the lovely chaps at Park Life who shared their power with us; and to the fabulous Lee Valley staff  - Naomi, Amy, and Tom who drove me home to get more cake - who shared dancing sheep and pretty otters with us on Leyton Marshes on such a fine September weekend.

So, on to October - see our next post coming right up.

* If you fancy learning how to dance, you'll find Swing Patrol at Royal Inn on the Park, Victoria Park

** There's an inspiring article in the latest WI Life about Forest Gate's efforts to save the High Street

the green man seal of approval

Yes - it's an EEWI cake he's enjoying there. 

We're at Countryside Live again tomorrow. The Green Man may even have left some cake for you to buy too. 

countryside live

Countryside 

Live 

Sat 28 - Sun 29 September 

10:00 – 17:00 

Children FREE 

Adults £4 

This family friendly event has something for all ages and all 

interests - so why not join us for a countryside weekend and 

enjoy the many shows, exhibitors and activities on offer. 

Activities include: 

 Dancing sheep show 

 Sheep dog displays 

 Ferret racing 

 Willow weaving 

 Falconry displays 

 Corn dolly making 

 Farm animals 

 Art marquee 

 Blacksmithing 

 Otters 

 Bats 

 Bees 

and your very own East End WI selling tea and cakes!

Start your adventure at 

visitleevalley.org.uk 

Leyton Marsh (behind Lee Valley Ice Centre), Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, E10 7QL

Come and say hello. Details here.

Knit and Natter!

It's Knit & Natter time! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go.

We'll be meeting this Thursday 26th of September from 6.30 – 8.30pm. 

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

getting in the swing of september

Don't despair if you're missing the heat and sunshine. After a blistering summer, and a lovely relaxed and chatty meeting in August, we're going to warm you up with a little bit of action this month. So press your swishy skirts and polish your dancing shoes because we'll be learning a few moves with Swing Patrol's Scott Cuprit at our evening meeting on Tuesday 17th September. If you came along in January to Clare Hair's vintage hair styling session, you may even want to have a go at a fancy hairdo to go with your dancing togs. We think it will be a lot of fun. As usual we'll be warming up from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Guests are very welcome  -we only ask for a £4 donation to cover costs. We'll bring refreshments, including wine, though do please feel free to share something too if you wish.

For our coffee morning - 10.30am on Friday 20th September - we'll be going to Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way E1 3DG, our own little bit of the countryside but with better coffee. Map here. Buses 309 or 339 will drop you nearby, or you can walk from Stepney Green tube or Limehouse DLR (7 minutes walk according to TFL, but that'll depend on how quickly you walk!). 


We've also got a book club meeting lined up for Monday 16th September to discuss Sarah Dunant's In the Company of the Courtesan (contact us for info on venue). And you're welcome to join us for Knit and Natter on Thursday 26th September at the Coborn Arms, Coborn Road E3 from 6.30 -8.30pm. And check the side-bar for information on the events where we are running cake stalls this month. It would be good if you can help.

I'm really looking forward to seeing you all, so hope you can make it. Still got a little bit of catching up to do since I got back from holiday, so look out for more info on your favourite local shops here on the blog soon.

Park Life!

august meetings: hot air and bugs

It's been an unexpectedly hot summer and, for me, that's meant lots of days away from home to escape from the incessant noise and dust of builders next door. So we thought that at our next meeting on 20th August we'd give everyone a chance to let off some steam, share those bothersome issues, large or small, and have some mini debates. Is Page 3 of the Sun old news, or is it about time it was stopped? Is it right that charities are always asking us to give more? Does bread made in a breadmaker really count as real bread? And how hairy should women really be?

 So what's bugging you? Come and start a discussion, or just join in.  We'll have a few tables dotted around, something cooling to drink, and you can join in when and where you want.  Very informal and definitely no standing up in front of a crowd. Do come along and let's have a conversation.  As usual we'll be at St Margaret's House, Old Ford Road, E2. Doors open from 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Refreshments will be available, though feel free to bring something to share if you wish. Members free, £4 visitors.

Oops - I almost forgot! By popular request, we're also having another food swap.  Just like the very jolly - and tasty -  swap we had in June, just bring along your home made goods or home grown stuff and swap it with your mates for something equally delicious... or courgettes.  Nothing to swap? Just watch the fun instead.   .

We also have an interesting coffee morning lined up this month too.  Chisenhale Art Gallery have invited us to have coffee at the gallery on Thursday 22nd August so we have a chance to see the latest exhibition and hear the story of the Broken Hill skull. Meet us at the gallery (64 Chisenhale Road, E3 5QZ) at 10.30am, have a cup of tea or coffee, a small bite of something, and discover something new. All welcome, and it's free!

PS That photo? Plastic junk from the River Thames. Don't get me started...

Knit & Natter, 25 July

It's Knit & Natter time tomorrow! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go.  

We'll be meeting this Thursday 25th of July from 6.30 – 8.30pm. 

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

shopping local in July

Here at EEWI, we're thinking about how we can to support the NFWI resolution to save the high street. Our local traders are important, whether in shops or local markets, and we want to support them. So at this month's meeting - next Tuesday July 16th - we've invited Paul Gardener, well known fourth-generation owner of Gardner's Paper Bags (follow the link for some lovely paper bag-gage). Paul is involved with the East London Trades Guild which aims to promote local traders in the area and he will talk about that and the story of his own business. We're also expecting a few words from other local traders, including Jenni, third generation member of fabric retailers family Rosenberg, now running the fabulous Stitch in Wanstead. And give us your recommendations for friendly high street businesses for a chance to win a copy of Jojo Tulloh's Modern Peasant . 

Do come along and join in. We're meeting as usual at St Margaret's House, through the side gates and we're in the hall at the back, 7pm for 7.30pm start. Non-members  are welcome - £4 donation requested. Refreshments provided, though do feel free to bring along drinks, nibbles or cake to share.

We have a coffee morning with a difference this month too on Thursday 18th July. We're paying a visit to museum of the year, the William Morris Museum, in Walthamstow. We'll be in the cafe from 10.30 onwards, have coffee, and then make our way to see the exhibits, including Art of Embroidery exhibition. Entry is free, but there is limited disabled parking only (call in advance to book). Local streets are parking controlled. There is a public paid car park next to the museum,  but drive past slowly or you'll miss it ! Travel directions to the museum here. 

Now, where's that bike?  I've got some shopping to do.

Knit & Natter, 27 June

It's Knit & Natter time tomorrow! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go.  

We'll be meeting this Thursday 27th of June from 6.30 – 8.30pm. 

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

this week

So, ladies, have you made your kimchi yet and are you making sure that you eat at least a spoon of yoghurt a day?  These were just some of the good things we learnt at this week's fabulous foodie evening.  Jojo Tulloh's demonstration made it all seem easy enough, as long as you have a large jar and a sharp knife.  But then she also made catching a swarm of bees sound simple too.  Our thanks go to Jojo and Louise from Random House, and to Vivian from high-street bookshop Newham Books for bringing along copies of the Modern Peasant to sell at a bargain price.  (We bought an EEWI copy too, so look out for that soon)

Thanks also go to Tessa from Parent Gym, a project to support and coach parents who wish to gain confidence in parenting.  Parent Gym is running a training session next Tuesday and Wednesday at St Paul's Way Centre, St Pauls Way, E3 4AJ on Tuesday and Wednesday next week if you are interested in becoming a Parent Gym coach. (email us for more info and we'll put you in contact with Tessa).

And what about our food swap success?  Lots of interest and bartering going on there and much enthusiam from those who came along to our coffee morning this morning at the Time Capsule Cafe. The lentil salad I got in a swap was absolutely delicious - recipe here, highly recommended.  Rhubarb and fig jam recipe here (I don't use the candied lemon peel because I never have it in the cupboard).  Irish tea cake recipe here on Stacey's blog.  If you have any more recipes for your swap, send it to us and we'll set up a recipe page with the links/ info.

If you're looking for something to do in the next few days members have recommended the Tower Hamlets Wheelers Glamour Ride tomorrow especially for those who like a bit of dressing up, or in the morning the Women's Ride to Thames Barrier Park ( 9.30 start from Mile End Stadium).

If getting under cover is more your thing, how about the Open City Docs Fest, a festival of documentaries which is supporting female documentary makers: we have a discount code for members who want to attend Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, Karaoke Girl, Solar Mamas.  Just drop us a quick email.

I'm off to watch the sunset at Whitstable tonight.  Whatever you do, have a Happy Solstice and a lovely weekend.

the modern peasant comes to EEWI

Interested in making the best of delicious vegetables this summer?  Want some new ideas on how to make the most of what's available locally?  Then come along to our meeting on Tuesday 18th June, 7pm for 7.30 start and meet Jojo Tulloh, food editor of The Week magazine and allotment-junkie. Jojo will talk about the lost art of fermentation, how easy and health giving this simple process is whilst demonstrating how to make kimchi, a fermented carrot, cabbage and chilli mixture that is the national dish of Korea.

Jojo lives locally (hurrah!) and divides her time between her family, her garden and writing about food and gardens. Taking inspiration from the self-sufficient life of cult-cook Patience Gray, Tulloh adapts Gray’s Southern Italian acres to the window-boxes of London in her new book The Modern Peasant. Step-by-step methods for baking and pickling, fermenting and foraging, Tulloh presents fresh tasting, achievable recipes for modern-day urban ‘peasants’ – from sour dough pizzas of nettles and sausage to jam, cordials and pickles. She will share some of her inspirational methods for great tasting seasonal cooking and fresh produce.  You'll also be able to buy a discounted copy of the book on the night if you wish, so don't forget to bring your pocket money (cards accepted too.)

To complement our food-mood we're also trying out a mini home-grown/ home-made food swap, a little experiement for us.  Just bring along your home made goods or home grown stuff and swap it with your mates for something equally delicious. Nothing to swap?  Watch the fun instead.

Haven't been to East End WI before?  Don't worry - it's open to all women and we'll make you welcome.  Just turn up on the night - St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2 0LP,  behind the Gallery Cafe (venue accessible to wheelchairs).  We request a £4 donation from non-members, deductible from your subscription later if you decide to join.  Tea, coffee and refeshments provided.

let's go on a tree walk

Every few months Elizabeth and I cycle along to  the Chisenhale Gallery for  their Coffee Morning for local parents where we serve up marmalade cakes and oaty biscuits and have a lovely time pouring out drinks, chatting and admiring the babies and toddlers.  We also have a chance to see the exhibitions and this week we loved Mariana Castillo Deball's "What we caught we threw away, and what we didn't catch we kept", a series of paper tree casts, made in Mexico, Costa Rica, Berlin and Scotland.  Pop in  if you have time - the pieces are captivating and the light and airy space is just right to show off the work.

You can also come on a complentary tree walk in Victoria Park this Saturday 15th June, a lovely way to learn about the diverse range of trees in the park.  Starting at Chisenhale Gallery at 2pm, the walk will be led by Richard Lambert from Trees for Cities and will end around 4pm at the Pavillion Cafe in the park.  All ages are welcome. Sounds like a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

veronika's back from wales

So Veronika's back from her trip to the NFWI AGM in Cardiff.  She's not only safe and well, she says she it was quite an experience - inspiring, occasionally hilarious and quite tiring. "It was a wonderful opportunity to chat to ladies from widely differing WI's and it became quickly clear to me how London WI's are far removed from the ones in the country." You'll find Veronika's  report on her time at the conference here on the blog and you'll have a chance to ask her more at our next meeting.

We're very grateful to Veronika for representing us and our link WIs in London -  I'm sure she did a great job.  And she brought back summer too...

Knit & Natter: Thursday 30th

Have you been casting on your winter projects (the weather can do that), darning your socks, or staring wistfully at your yarn stash? Excellent. It's Knit & Natter time! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go.  

** We've changed the day from Wednesday to THURSDAY, so we'll be meeting this Thursday 30 May from 6.30 – 8.30pm. **

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

a rather jolly agm

I think it may be quite a good sign that I didn't think to get my camera out until it was nearly time to go home after our AGM this week.  It was an exceptionally relaxed affair, I thought, especially as what started off as a few of us sitting in a circle having a cup of tea and a chat just grew and grew and grew into, well, quite a large circle.  Thank you all for making it such a pleasant and productive evening and for contributing to discussions in such a considered and considerate way - the discussion on the resolution on high streets was really interesting with lots of ideas about how we might support our local businesses. I'd like to give a special mention  to Jenny from MIND who talked about the Older People's Advocacy Project, to everyone who made and brought delicious food to share, to Katharine for telling us about how her weekend at Denman, courtesy of EEWI's Denman award (and whether we really might prefer to spend our award on locally based skills enhancement),  to Natasha and Alison who have joined the EEWI committee, and to those stalwarts who are continuing in office.  We've got more to think about: which new charities we might want to support this year - one suggestion is sending food to a local food bank; how we might get more involved in WI campaigns; how to encourage volunteers for our fundraising cake stalls which, as Jo explained, are so essential to our staying solvent; and what new activities you might want to try in the coming months.

I've probably forgotten something or someone.  I usually do.  But I will try to remember to be a good President.

if it's May, it must be our AGM

NFWI Campaigns Bunting*

We'll be a little bit more serious than usual at our next meeting on Tuesday 21st May as it's our Annual General Meeting.  We'll be reporting on what we've achieved during the last 18 months, electing our EEWI Officers, and thinking about our own policies for 2013/14. We'll also be voting on this year's resolution to the national WI conference in June - our own Veronika is going along to represent us and other local WIs. If you managed to catch Mary Portas last week trying to come up with a plan to revive Roman Road market then you'll recognise the importance of the resolution:

The NFWI notes with concern the continuing decline of our high streets and the damaging effect this has on local communities. We call on every member of the WI to support their local shops and make the high street their destination of choice for goods and services. We call on decision-makers to work collectively, at all levels, to help bring an end to the decline of our high streets and to ensure that high streets flourish and provide a focal point for local communities.

We thought we might relax afterwards with a chat, a snack and a drink.  If you have time, it would be lovely if you could bring along a small dish to share, maybe something that is a particular favourite with your family, or some traditional food popular with your own family.  We start at the ususal time: 7pm for 7.30pm start.  Guests are welcome (£3 donation requested) but will not be able to vote on resolutions.

Our coffee morning on 24th May will be the Museum of London in Docklands where the new Estuary exhibition has just opened. Meet up in the cafe at 10.30am.  All welcome - you don't have to be a member.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

*Plus ca change.

Fun on the green this weekend: want to help?

We're running the tea and cakes stall at Fun on The Green this Saturday 11th May - we'll even be cosy and dry in case of the odd shower because we have a marquee! It should be a fun event with plenty of action and the Three Mills area to see.  

It would be lovely to see some new volunteers to help out on the stall.  You don't have to be a baker if that's not your thing, as we need people to help set up and serve too.  Don't worry, we'll show you the ropes. 

Knit & Natter: Wednesday 24th

Whoop, it's Knit and Natter time! Tomorrow night is Knit & Natter night! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your tapestries and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go.  

We are meeting tomorrow night: Wednesday 24th April from 6.30 – 8.30pm.

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

we said it would be fun, didn't we?

What dance is this?

And this?

Definitely the Gay Gordons

What's the caller shouting for?

We stripped the willow, went under the Bridge of Athlone and tripped along with the Gay Gordons. There was an element of concentration on one or two faces, lots of laughter, and a few breathers when the going got a bit too hectic. I think it's fair to say that it was a laugh, just as we promised.  Jocelyn was the perfect caller, balancing exuberance with a modicum of order and we are very grateful to her for getting us out of our comfy chairs and onto the dance floor.  If you fancy more folksy dancing adventures, Jocelyn suggests you might give these a try: the Nest collective; Two for Joy: The Muckers in Hackney; and Chats Palace. When I've got my breath back, maybe.

On a more serious note, thanks too to Katharine for sharing information on Casserole Club in Tower Hamlets.  If you are interested in sharing a spare meal with an elderly or needy neighbour in, please let us know or contact Katharine direct via the email address on the website.  

We also heard from Isla about the Spare Room Campaign set up by charity Depaul.  Isla explained that this project aims to encourage families or individuals with a spare room available to provide accommidation for at risk homeless youngsters. For further information or to register an interest, follow the link.  Do let your friends know about both of these projects.  

Lots of bikes outside a cafe?   EEWI must be around

We want to spread the word too about our coffee morning venue last week.  Paper and Cup in St Paul's Way is a lovely, light airy space with good tea and coffee, a decent selection of reasonably priced cakes and sandwiches, and WiFi.  We were there for, ooh, er, quite a long time looking at photos, talking about Nigerian cooking, and hearing about the best places to buy fabric.  We may have discussed wedding cake too.

With many thanks to Karen for so generously sharing her son's wedding cake with us and wishing the newlyweds a very happy, rosy future.

April meetings: Time for a wee dance

Get your dancing shoes one because we're having a Ceilidh (pronounced a bit of a jolly dance).  If you can only vaguely remember the Gay Gordons from rainy days at school, it's time to relive the moment, and if you've never heard of the GGs then look on it as a chance to try something new.  It'll be a laugh.  Meeting as usual, third Tuesday of the month, 16th April at St Margaret's House, 21 Old Ford Road, E2,  7pm for a 7.30pm start.  All women welcome - free to members, £3 for guests (it's a bargain!). We'll bring the tea and coffee but it would be most marvellous if you could bring refreshments to share - cake or savouries or a spot of wine are always welcome.  We'll also hear about some local charitable projects.  So no excuses ladies - the clocks have gone back and the weather is warmer, so come and trip the light fantastic...or something like that.

We're supporting a newish cafe for our coffee morning on Friday 19th April at 10.30pm.  Paper and Cup at 83 St Paul's Way is a new social enterprise set up by the Spitalfields Crypt Trust and we'd love to show our support.  If you are coming from Mile End Station, walk left round the corner and catch any bus or take a ten minute walk and turn left at St Paul's Church. All women - and children - welcome.  Just bring yourself and enough loose change to buy yourself a cup of coffee to find some sweet company.

Now then.  Back to that sunshine...

Knit & Natter Wednesday

Just a reminder that tomorrow night is Knit & Natter night! Bring along your unfinished knitting projects, your crochet and your paper-craft - or anything else you have on the go. 

We are meeting tomorrow night: Wednesday 27th March from 6.30 – 8.30pm.

We're meeting at The Coborn Arms, 8 Coborn Road, Mile End, London E3 2DA. Click here for a map.

This EEWI-inspired group is open to anyone who feels like popping in with a project - knitting or otherwise. It will be a casual meeting, and everyone is invited – not only knitters! Bring along your stitching or paper crafts, or simply join us for a few drinks and a good catch-up. New knitters are welcome too.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!