So my mission on Monday morning was tick a few things off my To Do list.  Once a month our clever Crafty Girls meet up to learn a new skill and I’m just not good with a needle but I wanted to see what was happening.  It turned out to be ‘Bunnies’!  Pat had carefully provided all the necessary (and probably the most difficult things) heads, ears and orange triangle shapes.  This odd arrangement of pieces was gently sewn together, and bunny shapes began to appear.  Pat is excellent at helping anyone who was struggling and in just over an hour, Easter Bunnies appeared.  They carefully concealed a chocolate egg in the carrot (the orange triangles) and certainly made everyone present smile.  Next month perhaps I’ll have a go too as needle felting is on the agenda, WI is all about learning.

Monday evening my mission was just as enjoyable with the Wine Club.  Celia had been researching paring wine with chocolate which according to my information “can be a delightful experience”.  It requires careful consideration of the flavours, textures, sweetness, and acidity of both wine and chocolate.  Some combinations were more successful than others, Shiraz and a very dark chocolate suited my palate best.  

The start of the week was a success.  What can be better than time spent with friends discussing ideas and generating that feel good factor.

 

If you haven’t yet discovered Via (WI’s digital home for learning) it may just be an idea to have a look at what’s on offer.  It’s been a strange weather week with hints of Spring on one day and hail stones, mists, and chill winds on others.  So, not wanting to be in the garden,  I signed up for a lecture lead by consultant cardiologist Dr Sonya Babu-Narayam.  She’s an expert who wants us to take care of our hearts, in particular women’s hearts.  Cardiovascular disease is the world’s biggest killer of women.  Working with the British Heart Foundation she is determined to improve outcomes for women and this lecture she explained symptoms linked to heart disease.  It’s vital not to ignore signs, check with this link Women and heart disease – BHF  Not only should we be celebrating women’s achievements and cherishing mothers, we should be kind to ourselves and taking care of our health.

Via gives you access to many lectures and courses.  Have a look, I certainly learnt new facts from the lecture I listened to this week, thank you Dr Babu-Narayam.

Several members of the BEWI Camera Club joined The New Milton Arts Society for one of their regular monthly meetings in February.  The talk was about Lee Miller’s extraordinary career.  Born in 1907 she said “[I was] practically born and brought up in a dark room” and exposed to a camera by working in front of it, Miller was one of the most sought-after models of the late 1920s. She quickly stepped behind the lens, becoming a leading figure in the avant-garde scenes in New York, Paris, London and Cairo. Famously charismatic and sharply intelligent, having travelled, modelled, created art, experimented, Miller became an accredited war correspondent with the US Army in late 1940s.  The visions captured in her imagery, especially her pictures of the war, haunted her for the rest of her life.  The lecture was spell-binding. A major exhibition of the trailblazing surrealist photographer Lee Miller has just finished at the Tate Britain.

This was most definitely an inspirational talk for the Camera Club.

The WI has a long and successful campaign history.  Each year every member of WI has the opportunity to cast their individual selection on the resolution they support the most.  WIs are encouraged to hold meetings to provide members with the opportunity to discuss and learn more about each resolution and BEWI takes this seriously every January meeting.  This year a few eyebrows were raised when looking at the selection and as usual with BEWI lively discussion took place.  The great advantage of talking about the resolutions is that invariably you learn something new.  What was evident was that the majority of us did not know anything about vulval cancer (it is a rare cancer). It is suspected that most women are unaware that they should be regularly checking
their vulvas. Research by The Eve Appeal found that 4 in 5 women have never checked their vulva and less than 1 in 3 people have heard of vulval cancer.  BEWI agreed that raising awareness is important and felt, as a WI, this is a resolution we should and could support.

 

Resolution: Love Your Vulva – Self checking is your best defence against vulval cancer

Self-checking your vulva is important in ensuring the earlier detection of vulval cancer and to enhance survival chances. We call upon WI members to work together to raise awareness of the importance of self-checking and seeking medical advice as early as possible, and, to help highlight this rare cancer to GPs to promote prompt referrals to medical specialists when needed.

A sunny, blue skied, crisp Winter’s day and some brave BEWI members donned layers of warm clothes and set off over the countryside in temperatures of around 3 degrees.  Well done everyone for showing those of us who stayed in the warm what fun you had.  A resolution?  Why not join in on a walk on the first Monday of the month?  Of course, it’s not just about the exercise, it’s an opportunity to get together, have a chat and swap ideas. See you next month!

For info:  The Met Office stated Blizzard conditions are set to hit parts of the UK as numerous amber and yellow winter weather warnings for snow and ice remain in place across the country.  Luckily not in Bransgore.

As we approach the end of 2025, BEWI committee would like to thank all the members for their continued support.  We wish you all a joyful Christmas and a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.  As a committee we are often told it is the friendships that are made when joining that make a difference.  We hope you will be able to gather together with friends and family over this festive season and celebrate, whether with a cup of tea or a walk in the fresh air, the importance of friendship.

BEWI wishes everyone the very best for 2026.

 

web editor: 2026 image by FloraLunaSeven

Bransgore Evening WI Wine Club tested recommended wines for Christmas.  On the menu was everything from a lively, sparkling Cava from Spain made in the champenoise method, two Chateau Neuf du Pape wines, two good value white wines and, of course, delicious dessert wines.  Along with the excellent wine selection, BEWI’s very own wine connoisseur provided suitable morsels to enhance our experience. A magical evening was had as we enjoyed the festive atmosphere and the company of good friends.

BEWI Wine Club wish you a Merry Christmas.

The Hampshire Federation calendar competition for 2026 had a theme of Science and Technology.  Perhaps not the easiest of subjects but one of our members, often seen with camera in hand, decided to enter after spending time looking for something to inspire her.  All entrants may enter up to 4 photographs and Ruth was delighted to hear that one of her photos had been chosen for the month of October.  This is the third year running that one her photographs has featured in the federation calendar.  Well done Ruth.

There was a real buzz at yesterday’s BEWI meeting.  Lots of happy people chatting and sharing their latest news.  There was a warm atmosphere, it may have been stormy outside (did you avoid the puddles!) but inside it was cosy, cheerful and welcoming.  In addition to the usual monthly events, this month we decided to raise funds for our charity, Maggie’s in Southampton (cancer support specialists).  Our fundraising continues for a year and last night we added £148 to the collection.  Well done everyone who contributed.  Next month is, of course, our Christmas meeting so time to dig out the sparkly and outrageous jumpers.  Only 46 shopping days to go as well as sending in a photo for the competition, brushing up on our singing for the Carol Concert, baking a couple of cakes, going for a healthy walk at the start of December and then there’s Wine Club – the list goes on.

This is WI’s current campaign as there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year in the UK, and less than one in ten people survive. Women have a lower chance of surviving than men. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival. We call on WI members to work together to increase public confidence and training in the delivery of CPR and to work with local organisations to help improve access to defibrillators in their communities to give every person the best chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.

Next Thursday, 16th October, is Restart a Heart Day 2025.

If you only do one thing next week, please read and learn about what you can do.  Restart a Heart Day 2025 – learn life-saving CPR | St John Ambulance