At the monthly meeting of the village WRI, 16 women turned out in the pouring rain and wind to listen to Elaine, from neighbouring Blairgowrie, come and talk about the art of bobbin lace-making. As I walked to the meeting hall trying to shelter beneath my golf umbrella, I thought I was going to be blown away, Mary Poppins style, over the tops of the cottages and the old church spire.
It was a jam-packed night with a hefty agenda of activities. When we arrived water was on the boil for tea (bring-your-own-mug), and everyone produced cakes, biscuits (Dawn brought gluten-free macaroons for Jeanette) and sandwiches from their baskets. Except me. I will be better prepared next month - I might even break ranks and take a bottle of Christmas cheer.
Elaine was a mine of information about the ancient art of bobbin lace-making, which nearly died out after WW1 as it was a craft practised only by very poor people who, after the war to end all wars, no longer wanted to broadcast their poverty. Fortunately for the western world, there are women like Elaine and her friend Shirley who have dedicated the past 40 years to reinvigorating the passion! They even attend the annual bobbin lace-making conference where each year they receive an engraved bobbin as a memento. Bobbin lace-making however is not for the faint-hearted - or those with bad eyesight. To produce a piece of lace about two inches square can take these experts up to 12 hours. So next time you blow your nose on that delicately lace-edged hankerchief, be respectful. In lieu of a photograph and for those who may not be up-to-date on this latest craze: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ursuline_lace_2.jpg
After a break for tea, the raffle was drawn (one pound for a strip of five tickets). There were about eight prizes so the odds of winning were high. My numbers didn't come up but I was given a bar of handmade rose soap because I was the new girl, or maybe it was a piece of bribery to ensure I return next month.
There were also three competitions to be judged which the attending WRI members anonymously enter each month. November's were: (1) favourite earrings (2) flower of the month and (3) knitted baby jacket. Votes are cast in the form of cash, which is donated to an African orphanage. We raised 22 pounds. As far as I could tell, there was no bitching about the winners, or their winning entries, which I think says a lot about how friendly the women are in our village!
The final part of the evening was devoted to the serious end of the business - the official meeting. Mostly this comprised reading out the minutes of last month's village meeting, last month's Blairgowrie meeting, last month's Perth meeting and the Treasurer's report. This took quite a while as each chapter does an enormous amount of fund-raising, outings and lectures, all of which required lengthy discussion or a call for volunteers and participants. When it got to Perth needing assistance with the Drama group all went quiet as no one in this village is interested in drama. Except me! A director is required for a radio play competition taking place next May - if I take on this role I am assured I will have no difficulty finding enthusiastic volunteers to form the cast, but it will of course require me to return in order to rehearse my actors. It is tempting as I hate to think that the village might be under-represented in this important competition.
Next month's meeting will have a workshop on wreath making - for Christmas, not funerals. The competitions are for (1) best wrapped secret santa gift (2) flower of the month and (3) favourite hat. At least I have a whole month to work on it!
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