Cainscross WI: Cheese tasting with Waitrose ladies, Kerry and Kate

WE STARTED our early November meeting, as usual, with the singing of Jerusalem.

Apologies came from Patsy and Kate and Pam Elliott was thanked for her very pretty table flowers.

Since Waitrose ladies, Kerry and Kate, had a very early start for work the following morning, we welcomed them for Kerry’s tastings of some usual, and some not so usual cheeses.

We all identified Red Leicester and Stilton, but the goat’s cheese was an unusual one and there was also a date and walnut ‘loaf’ to go with the cheeses.

Kerry gave a very useful description of all the cheeses, which were on slate platters and accompanied with grapes.

We all agreed that the portions were generous and very filling.

Kate then demonstrated a hand-tied arrangement of chrysanthemums and spray carnations, which she made look a lot easier than it is to make and finished by wrapping them in cellophane wrappings which stood up and water could be added to.

The end result was lovely and I’m sure the flowers would have lasted a long time.

The flowers were added to the raffle which was very generous of them.

They were lovely ladies and it was a pleasure to have their company for the early part of the evening.

After this we had refreshments and then went onto the AGM part of the meeting with the Officers remaining the same with Doreen Tucker as President, Linda Foreman as Treasurer and Mary Jarrett as Secretary.

Doreen read out the Minutes of last year’s AGM and said thank you to all the Committee, and indeed to all of the membership, who are always willing to step in and help with whatever is needed.

We all agreed we have had a very busy, but enjoyable year, with many parties to celebrate our 90th Birthday and also the summer highlight of the trip to Gifford’s Circus back in August.

Hopefully next year will be just as enjoyable and if we could only encourage one or two new members to join us that would be great.

The evening finished with the raffle and the monthly competition winners for a Festive Decoration announced as:-

First - Tina Hewgill

Second - Margaret Adams

Third - Sheila Shipton & Mary Jarrett (joint)

Our early December meeting, to be held as usual at St. Matthew’s Church Hall, Cainscross, on Tuesday, December 6, will be the Christmas Party starting 7pm and booking is needed for this event.

The first meeting of January 2017 will fall on Tuesday, January 3, and will be a Social Evening with crafts, coffee and chatter!

This meeting will take place as usual in St Matthew’s Church Hall and new members/visitors will be very welcome to join us.