INTRODUCTION
Everyone who comes to our October meeting will see our meeting hall has been transformed!
The work on our main hall redecoration is complete and it is now bright and clean with a modern heritage look inside and outside.  We hope you like it too.
The committee achieved what it had set out to achieve during 2015/2016 and a bit more too, all within the agreed budget!  Feedback has been very positive and everyone has said how fantastic it looks, which is pleasing to hear as committee members worked very hard during August and September to ensure this was the case.  I'm sure you would like to join me in thanking the committee members for the support and hard work they have put into the hall.  Once again the team spirit prevailed and we all went that extra mile.
See below for  Sheila Maguire's behind the scenes account.

You will notice the wooden plaque and the photo of our founder are not yet back on the wall, don't worry, they are in a safe place and will be back clean and restored in the hall again soon.
Best Wishes Elaine


WI CAMPAIGNS - LETS HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We have been asked by NFWI to support two WI campaigns, which are the follow up to the two resolutions (which Ludworth and Mellor WI voted for) passed that the AGM this year.

1.  Avoid Food Waste Address Food Poverty - which recommends reductions in the amount of food that gets wasted in supermarkets and households.

2. Carers Welcome - which recommends that when a person with dementia  goes into hospital, carers should be allowed to be with them on the ward as this can make a stay in hospital less traumatic for them and lead to a better recovery.

The NFWI suggest a member of things that WI's  can do in their local area to check where their recommendations have been taken on board and where they have not, help spread the word and ensure that the people who have the power to change the way things are done are aware of the WI recommendations.

The need not be a lot of work, for example completing a questionnaire whilst at the supermarket and checking for CARERS WELCOME signs in hospitals and clinics.

Members interested in giving a little of their time to support these two important campaigns should contact Marilyn at the October meeting.

We should all remind ourselves when it comes to positive change many small actions count for a lot ..... it's the snowball effect!
The Committee


A Busy September

If you thought (as I did) that, once the meeting had approved the outlay for  the redecoration of the Hall, it would just happen as if by magic - how wrong we were!  There was a lot to do and that was where the fun started!
After getting permission from the meeting to go ahead and choose the colours there was much discussion (and trial pots) and trips to the Dulux Paint Centre in Stockport before deciding on green as the feature colour.

Some of the committee had been looking at curtains and eight pairs were needed but, when it came to ordering more, only 5 pairs were available with more being expected.  This could have caused major headaches if no more became available and the process would have to start again.  Caroline's daughter then suggested that we could buy 2 pairs of the longer curtains and cut them down - a suggestion we had not thought of - and Marilyn offered to do the alterations.  The curtains should be in place for our October meeting.

Those of you who were at the September meeting will know that the committee decided to  use a combination of the Stockport Community Payback Team (CPT) and a local contractor for the work.  This was the most cost effective option and saved Ludworth and Mellor WI a significant amount of money and meant we could do much more with our money.  The decision to use the CPT meant more work for the committee members.  This work took place over two Saturdays and following Mondays.  It was quite hard physical work and committee members not able to do this type of work provided moral support and assisted in other ways.  Those of us able to  do this type of work, now affectionately known as 'the crew', sprang into action and set about taking everything down from the walls, moving chairs into the middle of the room and covering our beautiful new floor with cardboard, of carpet and dust sheets and the chairs with tarpaulin and plastic sheets.  Determined tht no part of the floor would be in any way susceptible to paint spills, the crew covered  the floor with cardboard (extra cardboard having been collected during the week) and carpet, all taped together so that it was completely sealed.  Please don't show any of them parcel tape for a very long time!  After 3 hours work the crew went to Libby's in Marple Bridge for a very welcome 'Bacon Butty'.

At 9.00 am on the following Monday the crew returned to make sure the hall was ready for business as usual that week.  Although most of the painting had been done,  the Community Payback Team had not finished and would have to come back the following Sunday.  That meant double the work for the crew who gingerly removed the cardboard and dust sheets thankful that they had protected the floor as the CP Team were quite messy workers, and set to clearing up in the knowledge that they would have to put it all back again the following Saturday and clear up again the following Monday.  Any stray blobs of paint and there were a few, were adeptly removed.  The floor was then hoovered to take up all the little bits, ready for Pilates that evening.
Unfortunately, there had been a misunderstanding on the part of the CPT and they had removed the dart board from the wall so the Darts Group turned up on Monday at 10.30 am ready to play darts and had to substitute a cup of coffee and a natter for their usual game.  We promise the darts board will be back in its usual place by October.

I am sure that all our members will appreciate the time and effort the Committee members have put in 'behind the scenes' - meeting prospective craftsmen in order to get quotes, preparing for work to take place, putting chairs and the piano back in place and keeping an eye on the pennies.
​Sheila Maguire

DIARY DATES

Thursday 20th October
Harvest Lunch in the Hall
1--3 pm  Tickets £5.50

Monday 21st November
Trip to Chatsworth

Thursday 1st December
Shopping trip to York
Last chance to buy tickets
at the November Meeting

Saturday 3rd December
Winter Wonderland
Please see Caroline if you are
able to donate any handicrafts
for the stall or to help on the day.

Thursday 8th December
Christmas Lunch at Peruga
12.30 for 1.00 pm
See Barbara Owen for tickets


IRISH FRUIT LOAF

Sheila's fruit cake was much
admired at the birthday tea
for the Queen so she has
kindly provided the recipe.
1 lb mixed dried fruit
1 cupful of clear strong tea
1 cupful of demerera or soft
brown sugar (or mixture of both)
2 cupfuls of self raising flour
1 egg
Soak 1lb mixed dried fruit overnight in
the cupful of tea and add the sugar.
Next morning add the 2 cupfuls of 
self raising flour and the one well
beaten egg.  Mix well and pour into
 a well greased bread tin (9"x5"x3")
Bake for 2 hours on the middle shelf
at reg3, 170 (150 fan).
Leave until next day before cutting.