Wave the flags

During the last couple of weeks a small group of BEWI members have cut, stitched, turned out, ironed, measured and stitched again.  The hum of sewing machines filled the air and otherwise it was fairly quiet with everyone concentrating on doing their bit really well.  That’s not to say conversation stopped all together – surely it never would with a group of BEWI friends – with views and advice shared on a range of topics.  At the end of the days we created a pile of bright, colourful bunting ready to celebrate not only the Coronation but the soon to arrive Bransgore Fun Day.  Thanks to Pat, who is extremely organised and her ‘here’s one I made earlier’ system.

Gardeners look forward

The BEWI gardening club looks forward to seeing members’ gardens and particularly in the Spring.  Today the weather, 50mph winds and warnings about falling debris, prohibited the usual reconnaissance so we headed to the safety of a café in a local garden centre.   There was chatter about all sorts of things but the conversation came back to gardening and tips about what to grow where.  Several people were amused by the conversation about cutting back Sambucus as someone thought we were talking about Sambuca the sweet liqueur from Italy!  Gardeners World states “To produce the best coloured leaves, prune plants back to ground level every year in early spring (bear in mind this may be at the expense of flowers and fruit).”   Always work to do and today, at least, the  sun was shining but look out, tomorrow evening -3C is predicted.

Bon appetite !

Lunch on Tuesday turned out to be a real success.  BEWI members drove to MJs Restaurant run by Brockenhurst College.  The fine-dining restaurant is where students learn to cook outstanding dishes under the supervision of professional chefs. The quality of training provided at MJ’s has even been praised by celebrity chefs James Martin and Raymond Blanc and BEWI can be added to the fan list.  Everyone agreed the meals were delicious and the service polite and efficient plus, of course, the company excellent.  I suspect another visit is on the cards.

Watch the birdie!!

BEWI Camera Club were very fortunate to book Steve Milton and his partner Jen for a Zoom Presentation on Thursday 23rd February.  Four members acted as hosts and my goodness we were enthralled.

Together Steve and Jen are ‘Sleepy Robot Photography’ based in Llanelli, South Wales. (www.sleepyrobotphotography) They have been working together for over 8 years learning their craft and pride themselves on not following convention to create unique portrait photography that has a twist. Combining fashion and beauty photography to form high quality photographic art, they are different!!  Steve and Jen spend as much time creating props, sets or in post-production as actually photographing. The result is creative and unique, with imaginative stories and the WOW factor!

Steve and Jen have full time jobs and do their photography as a hobby!! They collect and recycle objects, materials, old crockery and what could be classed as rubbish to you and me e.g crisp packets, toilet rolls, cardboard, old smelly fishing nets and wallpaper.  Anything to produce unique costumes and amazing sets.  Jen is the crafting one and has made dresses from old jumpers, a parachute, a fake cello and created a divers’ helmet and suit.

They have constructed their own office and studio and have an old van used to carry their photography equipment and props to various places.  Setting up outdoors is a challenge. Very often they must cope with inclement weather conditions and difficult terrain. However, they do not let this defeat them, as you can see on their social media.

Once again we thank Steve and Jen for their amazing talk and inspiration. We certainly have been given food for thought with our photography.

Feature photograph by Steve and Jen

Molto bene!

Celia, once again, had been busy researching and buying Italian red wine focusing on Tuscany which is one of the most famous and prolific wine regions anywhere in Europe. It is best known for its Sangiovese-based dry red wines which dominate output.  There were five bottles ready to taste  – cin cin!  Celia gave us the background to Tuscany wine and the wine clubs now well educated palates tasted Maremma Toscana DOC which is produced in the style of ‘Super Tuscans’ and approved.  The feeling was that it would be excellent with an Italian meal. Chianti Classico DOCG  (yes we all remembered drinking Chianti in our youth!) was also very good.  Both wines had been purchased from a local supermarket.  With memories flooding back of the all wonderful Italian wines we consumed and meals we’d eaten, someone suggested perhaps we could consider a trip to Tuscany to further our education.  May be? After all it had been a ‘serata eccellente’.

Don’t like Mondays?

Monday is, apparently, the most popular day for online shopping or you may be doing the washing but if you can tear yourself away to a Monday morning Crafty Girls session, you could be sparkling!  This week Pat showed members how to make small items covered with sparking beads and jewels.  I hear it took concentration and the results were brilliant.  Thank you to Pat and to Glynis for the photos.

Bunting parties

Last Spring members had great fun at bunting parties!  Everyone who could (and you didn’t have to be proficient with a needle) came along to cut out, iron, sew, iron again and stitch together meters of red, white and blue making bunting to celebrate the Jubilee.  The bunting was a sell out at the Village’s Fun Day and this year with a Coronation in May, it’s time to make more bunting.  Members will have fun getting the flags out!

A big thank you

has been sent to BEWI members following a talk at their February meeting.  The speaker spoke passionately about the charity Simon Says which was set up to support Hampshire children and young people who have had a significant person in their life who had died or is dying.  Approximately 400 parents die in the county every year leaving around 690 dependent children.  This small charity makes a difference to lives and BEWI members donated £408 to help them.  The charity said “Thank you so very much for the warm welcome last night and for your amazing fundraising effort”.  

 around 400 parents die in the county, leaving around 690 dependent children (a

Snapped up

We are delighted to announce that Pat has one the 2022 Photo Competition which runs throughout the year.  A theme is set every month and all members can enter a recent photo they have taken or one from their albums. Whilst Pat has entered some excellent shots you don’t have to an expert to join in and photos can be taken with a mobile, a favourite bridge camera with lots of functions or your old box Brownie. This photo was entered by Pat in February when the theme was ‘textures’ and it was one of many brilliant photos. Thank you and well done to everyone who takes time to enters and, of course, to Pat.

Pat wins Photo Competition

New Year starts now

To all members of Bransgore Evening WI plus our families, friends and neighbours.

The committee hopes 2023 brings you peace, love, laughter and joy.