Unfortunately the date we picked for our bluebell walk this year was too rainy for everyone. Vhris will try another walk in July
The Core Group is on the track of a holiday this year, after the success of previous ones. We now know the sort of venues to look for, but finding one at a good price is less easy. Suggestions please of big houses, with about 10 en suite rooms, and favourite locations not too far away! Tricky you see. We hope we might find a week in September.
We hope those of you who have not yet dipped your toe in the trading water, will soon give it a go. After all, that is why you joined, isn’t it?
To help people start and keep trading, we hold social events from time to time as we have found everyone is more likely to trade with someone they have met. Anyone can organize one. It can be as simple as “come to my house for a cheese and wine evening”, or a bit more adventurous, like a games afternoon. If you have an idea for a social event, but are not sure about it, do please get in touch with a core group member for a chat.
Two of our longstanding members and friends, Jane and Chris, assisted by their pooches, organised an excellent afternoon of fun and brains at Warborough. What a great idea, we did it again, soon after Christmas, and recycled unwanted Christmas present for castles too.
We played games – nothing too strenuous- until approx tea time, then we enjoyed our Bring and Share buffet meal. More games from 5-7, allowing everyone to play games, eat and chat, even if unable to be there for the whole time.
“Really enjoyed the games afternoon yesterday!” Laura
Our next Core Group meeting is planned for April 18th 2024 in Cholsey at 11am
All members are most welcome to join us to find out what we do and raise any questions, or to discuss in advance with one of the Core Group members. Advance notice will be sent to members a little nearer the time
We usually plan social events at this meeting as well as hearing about trades, and this time will discuss this year’s holiday. We also deal with ny issues arising and raised by members.
We thought people would enjoy meeting up for a coffee morning in the winter weather, and Susan cleverly suggested Cholsey Pavilion which is more or less next to her house. Local charities take turns to host on Saturday morning and make homemade cakes, this time it was th Cholsey Horticultural Society. About 16 people came for a long or short time, the cakes were tempting, and I had a chance to catch up with other old friends in Cholsey. Newer members quickly met everyone else, and we moved round and spread out as chats suggested. A big success!
We repeated this , the latest at Crowmarsh Village Hall, more excellent cakes and company.
We had a terrific LETs holiday in June, returning to the house in Pembrokeshire which we enjoyed so much the previous year
We stayed at a roomy house at Nolton Haven, only a small totter to he beach, and decided to go to the same place as last year (2022). We went in June though, to give others a chance to go who couldn’t make it last time. After a few cancellations and replacements it all worked out with a full house. The Pembrokeshire Coast Path runs from
our beach in both directions, north and south, and there are terrific views across the sea to St. Brides Bay and St. Davids with Ramsay Island in one direction and towards Milford Haven and the islands of Skomer and Skokholm in the other.
This time we were able to visit St David’s Cathedral, a highlight followed by a fishy lunch at Porthgain. Another high spot was visiting the puffins on Skomer one evening, in perfect weather. It wasn’t all activities, we had relaxing times in the house just being together watching TV, playing games, cooking and of course eating, and relaxing with reading and chatting.
Evening meals were prepared by 2 different people each evening (not the person they came with!) apart from the group dinner on the last evening in a fantastic boho hotel in the next bay. Shopping and cooking for 11 is quite a challenge, but everyone rose to the occasion and we had some great food. And you really get to know somebody when sharing a kitchen!
Bluebells galore