Well this is a bit of a pickle isn’t it? I thought it might be a good idea to create a page where I can paste updates from OFWI and also ideas for things to do in isolation. Some posts will be informative, some amusing and light hearted none of it tragic! Email me things to post or make comments.
April, May and June and July and and September cancelled. And on it goes.This makes me very sad ☹️ but I just hang on to the fact that it’s not personal and people are in a much bigger pickle than us. Keep safe, well and sane, keep in touch with each other.
December 2020
I am going to to draw a line under this page so will see you next year in Welcome to 2021.October 29th
October 22nd
Take a look at the photos from our October walk here and our October speaker here.
We have a stall on December 6th to sell our crafts watch this space.
The fundraising for Tiggywinkles on behalf of Lesley Blowfield is going really well. So far we have raised £168 (Jayne Snewin has raised £150 alone!). We still have a bag of hedgehogs if anyone is interested.
Some of us out out
September 26th
Just love John Bishop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOSyTiFRgYU
Fabulous video sent from liz Watch here
Saturday 5th September
I had 2 yesterday
Friday 4th September
Hope you have all received your digital News and Views? If you haven’t click here. sept2020newsandviews.pdf
Thursday 3rd September
https://youtu.be/qW-9vOrrBY
Sent from Kay.
Sunday 30th August
Hope you are enjoying this bank holiday weekend.. And there it is September! Lovely sunset tonight taken from her window.
Saturday 15th August
Rita and Jim are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary today the 15th August 2020. They are not quite having the celebration they planned but we wish them well and hope they have a nice day.
This lovely glass ornament was commissioned by Rita and Jim on our WI trip to the IOW last year.
Thursday 13th August
Oh wow can’t believe we are in August but here we are.
Our knitters have been busy.. take a look
Fabulous zoom meeting on the 12th with Christine Green
Friday 24th July
Wantage WI are starting to get out.. not out out but definitely out!
Sunday 12th July
The Monnery’s garden looking swell!
Wednesday 8th July
A very successful Zoom meeting was held today featuring Al Sylvester… take a look hereWell another meeting in lockdown! Your President has a few words to say! CLICK HERE
Saturday 4th July
As lock down eases call circles have met in the garden…socially distanced of course!
Thursday 2nd July
Having we been busy?!
Tuesday 23rd June
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHBSzooAtxA&feature=em-comments Denman paper folding… some pics from the event.Monday 22nd June
Angie’s but of perfection!
Sunday 21st June
Some words of wisdom from Rita and Spike!
Saturday 20th June
Friday 19th June
Happy anniversary to Kay and her husband… a pair of welsh dragons!
The scrubs Viv and Lesley have made for St Katherines have finally been finished and delivered. The Manager was very grateful to receive them. They managed to make 12 between them with Liz assisting in the finishing off.
Thursday 18th June
The ladies cannot go for tea and a communal jigsaw session but they have been busy enjoying them, these are have been swapped recently, the next batch is ready for collection!
Monday 15th June
More virtual tours from the National Trust Here
Jazzy with her dolly made by Jayne
Sunday 14th June
Saturday 13th June
Ann has been crafting away
Friday 12th June
Who fancies a guided walk around Mottisfont Rose Garden HereThursday 11th June
The hedgehogs have made it to the website
Wednesday 10th June
A very successful Zoom meeting was held today featuring Valerie Calderbank… take a look hereWell another meeting in lockdown! Your President has a few words to say! CLICK HERE
Tuesday 9th June
Monday 8th June
Good morning, good morning Good MorningSunday 7th June
Breath taking posted by Lizzie.Friday 5th June
Today some of us attended a OFWI Zoom presentation.
Thursday 4th June
I have discovered away of creating a link to videos that isn’t crashing the website! Hurray!A little ditty to cheer you up on a dull ole Thursday.
Thursday ditty
Gyles Brandreth and his golden daffodils!
Treat yourself
News and views issue 4 n_v_se_issue_4_.pdf
Day we received issue 4 of OFWI News and Views. Wantage WI gets a mention again!
Wednesday 3rd June
Tuesday 2nd June
Today we had a cookery demonstration on zoom, it made us feel like a WI again. Take a look on our speakers page. Here
Diane’s garden looking pretty.
Monday 1st June
Happy Whitsuntide!
If you are called by official track and trace people they will call from this number. 0300 013 5000 Don’t be dupe by scam calls! A text message will clearly be from the NHS
Posted from Carol Doughty
What’s a wiggle bag…take a look here!
Friday 29th May
Bumble learning to sow
Ohhh dear ladies, I am running out of material.. so come on send me photos of your gardens, your crafting. Anything you might have been up to in lockdown!
Bumble… Learning to sew!
Diane has been bread making
Saturday 23rd May
Friday 22nd May
Sheila zooming along!
Thursday 21st May
Rita doing a bit of doodle art on Zoom with OFWI!
Wednesday 20th May
Barbara doing it outdoors
Madeline’s lovely daisies
Tuesday 19th May
Why not share your garden photos with me?
Linda Rees’s garden
Monday 18th May
Super excited to say we have a zoom programme for the next couple of months ! Take a look at here! If you have any ideas for the program or would like to do a presentation or demonstration please be in touch.Saturday 16th May
The things we did in lockdown!
Thursday 14th May
Wednesday 13th May
A cygnet hitching a lift on Mamma
Posted from Rita
Wantage Wi Team Talk May 2020
Your president is speaking!
Monday 11th May
Sunday 10th May
Happy Boris day… wonder what he’s going to say?
Kay’s been very busy
Saturday 9th May
Jeanne Felmingham at work in her garden
Friday 8th May
Happy VE Day
Thursday 7th May
Your Digital News and Views n_v_se_issue_3.pdf
Wednesday 6th May
Today was committee meeting day, we did some planning and are really hoping to bring some entertainment to you via Zoom for the June meeting. Don’t forget Rita will be doing another quiz this Wednesday coming!Tuesday 5th May
Monday 4th May
May the forth be with you!
Keep on crafting ladies… Ali’s been hard it.Sunday 3rd May
This is some of the activities Jane has been doing during the lock down, as there are no grandchildren to play in the garden they have watched the bluetits empty their nest box, remodel it, build a nest and lay 9 eggs. Jane has made,washed ironed, packed and dispatched about 40 laundry bags for health care staff. She planted too many seeds and tended her garden.
Saturday 2nd May
A book shelf for covid sent in by Angela Bell
Angie’s neighbour’s cat helping with the jigsaw
A lady who wishes to be entitled “an anonymously amateur knitter” sent us her left overs
Friday 1st May
Happy May day and happy new month in lockdown. I hope you are all staying happy healthy and sane. Don’t forget to share the things that are coming out of your lockdown. These came out of mine today.
A children’s course in acrylics undergone by Diane
The committee donated £50 to charity knitting and this is what came through my letterbox today. Card handmade by Eileen… so clever!
Posted from Rita
Thursday 30th April
If you need wool for charity knitting let me know!The end of every zoom meeting Bye Bye
Kiwi mums singing about their struggles in lockdown Mamma Mia it’s quarantina Posted from Yvette
Wednesday 29th April
for those who couldn’t make it why don’t you have a go. Our highest scorers got 15. Brian and I got 11, we made a couple of silly mistakes. wi-quiz-2-april-2020.docx
A another successful quiz organised by Rita
Tuesday 28th April
After a gap of 40 years Anne has started sewing again. Something for her granddaughter. Thanks to Ali for the pretty fabric!
Carol making scrub bags, poppies and blankets
So let’s not forget our low maintenance friends
Have a go and let me know your answers!
Monday 27th April
Sunday 26th April
Someone being pampered (Angie)
Saturday 25th April
Don’t forget to see what’s streaming at The National Theatre
Friday 24th April
Liz Dickins researching our next WI Holiday….Bring it on!
Thursday 23rd April
Ohhh take a look at page 9!
n_v_se_issue_2.pdf Your Digital News and Views issue 2
Wednesday 22nd April
David and Mary playing Tri Dominoes in their conservatory, they have got hooked on it and play every day.
The coop are now doing home delivery on a limited range of food. Click Here
Monday 20th April
Jennifer cowling running her exercise class.
Sue Parnell’s Easter Simnel Cake
Sunday 19th April
What did you mostly do on lockdown Sunday? I made face masks! I don’t like face masks much and I certainly don’t want to use disposable ones! These ones require no sewing… I didn’t spot that until I got out the kit! I think the government will bow to pressure and insist we wear face masks when we are out out. Tip use a light cotton fabric unless you want to suffocate!
Friday 17th April
Jane just watched The Phantom of the Opera streamed via Youtube it is only available for 24 hrs from 7 pm, Friday 17th April
Thursday 16th April
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp5r8tvQbAQSomewhere over the rainbow posted from Liz
Wednesday 15th April
Angela Bell has discovered you can pre-order the May issue of Gardener’s World mag with the 2 for 1 gardens entry card from magsdirect.co.uk for £6.99 There are seeds as well for an extra £1.
In case you have missed it, Morrisons, in addition to their usual on-line deliveries, also sell food boxes. On their web site, go the ‘groceries’ then ‘food box.’ Usually there is a next day delivery. There is a choice of ‘general’, ‘meat’ and ‘vegetarian’ for £35. I am told they are very good.
Today Rita organised a Zoom quiz and 20 ladies turned up that’s 25% of our WI. some of us had our housemate there, which in my case was most helpful as it was quite hard, none the less it was good fun!
Tuesday 14th April
Look what Ann Constance has been up too in lockdown… we do have some talented ladies!
Sunday 12th April
Lovely photo taken by Anne Pagett
Friday 10th April
Linda Rees’s little medics
Thursday 9th April
46 Toiletry bags filled by Liz
Your digital news and views.
Normally a social girl
I love to meet my mates
But lately with the virus here
We can’t go out the gates.
You see, we are the ‘oldies’ now
We need to stay inside
If they haven’t seen us for a while
They’ll think we’ve upped and died.
They’ll never know the things we did
Before we got this old
There wasn’t any Facebook
So not everything was told.
We may seem, sweet old ladies,
Who would never be uncouth
But we grew up in the 60s –
If you only knew the truth!
There was sex and drugs and rock ‘n roll
The pill and miniskirts
We smoked, we drank, we partied
And were quite outrageous flirts.
Then we settled down, got married
And turned into someone’s mum,
Somebody’s wife, then nana,
Who on earth did we become?
We didn’t mind the change of pace
Because our lives were full
But to bury us before we’re dead
Is like a red rag to a bull!
So here you find me stuck inside
For 4 weeks, maybe more
I finally found myself again
Then I had to close the door!
It didn’t really bother me
I’d while away the hour
I’d bake for all the family
But I’ve got no bloody flour!
Now Netflix is just wonderful
I like a gutsy thriller
I’m swooning over Idris
Or some random sexy killer.
At least I’ve got a stash of booze
For when I’m being idle
There’s wine and whiskey, even gin
If I’m feeling suicidal!
So let’s all drink to lockdown
To recovery and health
And hope this bloody virus
Doesn’t decimate our wealth.
We’ll all get through the crisis
And be back to join our mates
Just hoping I’m not far too wide
To fit through the flaming gates!
Sent from Yvette, we don’t know who wrote it
Wednesday 8th April
A lovely Easter card made by Eileen
Toiletry bags made by Julia Fox
Connected cards for Starling personal accounts.
This is a really good idea from Starling bank!
A message from your president!
Tuesday 7th April
Monday 6th April
A few from today
Insert link to getting out of the house
posted from Yvette
Sunday 5th April
Any one fancy a virtual tour of the tulip fields of Holland. This is a long one but there are lots out there on YouTube
Well I have had both so just awaiting the cure ~ Diane
Saturday 4th April
My stepson sent me this.. he said it made him think of me!
If you have a spare 5 mins it’s worth a listen.. very funny
Remember this? Angie – who looks like this everyday now!
Thursday 2nd April
Andrew Lloyd Webber will be streaming his musicals for free online in a new series for West End and Broadway fans.
Entitled “The Shows Must Go On”, the series will start with the 2000 adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, Richard Attenborough and Joan Collins.
The show will be available for 48 hours from Friday 3 April at 7pm BST on “The Shows Must Go On” YouTube channel.
The following week the 2012 production of Jesus Christ Superstar, with Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Chris Moyles, will be streamed. Further shows are to be announced.
While free, the channel is encouraging viewers to donate to a variety of charities – Acting for Others, Broadway Cares and Actors Benevolent Fund.
For further list of shows go to WhatsOnStage website. You’ll also find lots more information about shows available from other theatre groups.
From Jim Mitchell
Why not visit the royal opera house see what’s on!
Wednesday 1st April
There seems to be a distinct lack of April Fools jokes out there..just saying
Today we held our committee meeting via ZOOM! I took screen print after Liz left which was a shame!
Amazing Places You Can Visit Without Leaving Home
Tuesday 31st March
Insert link to women smashing we are going on a summer holiday link
Insert link to women drinking wine in her dressing gown
Sent to Diane via her cousin… I wonder what he was suggesting
Insert link to Irish joke
A bit of fun from Keith Dickins and Yvette
Monday 30th March
Linda Rees has been very busy in isolation!
Turn you thong into a face mask
Posted from Liz Dickins… watch to end!
Sunday 30th March
Today Brian and I had a very old fashioned Sunday, a walk out, roast dinner and a film. We watched Red Joan, which I had seen at Denman, but Brian hadn’t seen. Really interesting story.
Saturday 29th March
Campbell’s online award winning butchers.
TIME OUT IN Theatre shows to stream online. Posted from Yvette
Friday 27th March
Any of you identifying with this?
Here is someone who has a lot of practice with social distancing and self-isolation…. BEAUTIFUL WORK; WHAT A TALENT! But can he fly a kite? Posted from Liz
WATCH: Matt Lucas reworks Shooting Stars’ baked potato song to urge fans to stay indoors…hilarious.
https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/coronavirus/matt-lucas-baked-potato-shooting-stars-song/
There’s a coronavirus parody song to the tune of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ some very clever people out there! Diane loves a bit of Queen!
In case you are really really desperate… Learn Latin with Jacob Rees Mogg. Feed back expected.
Thursday 26th March
Found on Jim Mitchell’s Facebook
Great News from National Theatre!
The National Theatre has announced plans to stream NT Live shows for free on YouTube. From Thursday 2 April, a number of productions previously screened in cinemas globally as a part of National Theatre Live will be made available to watch for free. The first will be Richard Bean’s One Man Two Guvnors featuring a Tony Award-winning performance from James Corden. All the productions will be free and screened live every Thursday at 7.00pm and will then be available on demand for seven days on the NT’s YouTube channel.
Vera tells me her go to song for this todo is ‘I’m busy doing nothing’ and of course it ends with ‘I’d like to be unhappy but I really don’t have the time!’
Join in with her here!
Posted from Liz Dickins
Any one interested in signing up for a online course? The centre of excellence, an e-training centre is selling all its courses for £29. Sign up, choose your course and at the checkout add the code UPSKILL. I just signed up for the children’s book writing course.
Udemy have some really good offers too.
Diane
Angie has been offered several new photo albums. Guess we all have old photos hanging about waiting for an album. If anyone is interested perhaps they could get in touch with her and let her know and she can deliver….contactless of course.
abaileymyers@gmail.com
Wednesday 25th March
Wantage market place looking lush this morning.
From Age UK
Some useful links from age uk
If any ladies fancy a trip down memory lane and a bop around for good exercise there were two good programmes focusing on Ready Steady Go last Friday on BBC4. It is on Catch up – Yvette
You maybe interested in ballet and opera performances at home.
Posted from Kay Porter
Royal Opera House our house to your house
Keep an eye on some of the animals at the park from the comfort of your own home!
Tuesday 24th March
WANTAGE TAKEWAY AND DELIVERY FOOD OUTLETS
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD LATEST LIST OF FOOD OUTLETS
Keep Calm and Knit
Posted for Angie Bailey – Myers
Jane Braithwaite would like to ask if anybody would like to borrow one of the many jigsaws she has stored, she can arrange a contact-free transfer from her home in Roman Way or she can deliver to your door.
Monday 23rd March
Posted from Kay Porter
Sunday 22nd March
China has begun relaxing its social distancing measures as the spread of coronavirus has slowed.
Earlier in the week Wuhan – where the outbreak began – recorded no new cases for the first time and now checkpoints in the city have been lifted.
The South Bank’s Globe Theatre has closed its doors for now, but it also has an online catalogue of filmed performances to feast on.
Globe Player has paid-for recordings of many of the theatre’s Shakespeare adaptations spanning more than 10 years, including Mark Rylance and Stephen Fry in Twelfth Night; Jonathan Pryce as the Merchant of Venice; Emma Rice’s naughty telling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Adetomiwa Edun and Ellie Kendrick in the 2009 production of Romeo and Juliet; and Lucy Bailey’s bloodthirsty Titus Andronicus.
Watching one of these for your sofa is probably more comfortable than being a groundling at the theatre itself, although you’ll pay roughly the same to rent, as you usually would for the cheapest tickets in the house.
If you’re particularly barmy about the Bard, bundles of nine different seasons at the Globe are also available to buy.
Free content on Globe Player is admittedly limited, although there’s some interesting behind-the-scenes content to check out.
Posted from Yvette Cecil
Saturday 21st March
Ray Collins making a difference in our community.
Covid-19 related scams. Thames valley police advice
Stuck at home? These 12 famous museums offer virtual tours you can take on your couch
Posted from Jenny De La Coze
https://hellogiggles.com/news/museums-with-virtual-tours/
Friday 20th March
Some of us should have been sitting down to lunch at The Fox at Denchworth today, alas it wasn’t to be. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t look forward to many more lunches together even if the leaves are turning golden. So here is a reminder of the two lunches we enjoyed together in January and February. I might see you shopping between 8am and 9am in Sainsburys or Waitrose but whatever you do remember
Yes, you’ve guessed, keep your distance and singing “Happy Birthday”.
Posted from Madeline Steel
Posted by Diane Monnery
HERE’S 33 NATIONAL PARK TOURS YOU CAN TAKE VIRTUALLY FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME
Post from Sandra Gadsby
Some links for you.
https://www.facebook.com/oxfordshirefedwi/
https://www.oxfordshirewi.co.uk/
I have red wool if anyone wants some for poppy making. Let me know and I will bring it round at the end of a 10 foot barge pole!
Posted by Diane Monnery
Sainsbury’s introduces elderly-only shopping hour amid supermarket’s coronavirus struggle…other supermarkets are available!
5th September is the new date for the postponed Wantage and grove VE Day Celebrations .
Some good ideas at Penny Post.
Curtesy of Mrs Dickins! Toilet Roll Hoarding Aussie Style
https://www.thewi.org.uk/home/covid-19-update-nfwi-events-and-activities
Wantage WI 