New Zealand Link WI
On this page of our website we will be uploading email correspondence between members of Baslow WI in England and Denise Gavin a member of Hukanui-Hamua WI near Eketahuna, North Island, New Zealand. Our WIs have been linked for over 70 years. In days gone by we corresponded by letter and cards with a small gift at Christmas but now, using emails we correspond much more frequently usually after our monthly meetings.
Scroll down to read the correspondence between members in our WIs over many months and years!
March 2024
FROM: Ann in Baslow
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 28 March 2024
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 28 March 2024
FROM: Ann in Baslow
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 14 March 2024
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 14 March 2024
Hello Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua 'Darlings',
We had a fabulous meeting yesterday with the hall filled with members and some visitors too. Our speaker was Angelique Foster, she is Derbyshire's Police & Crime Commissioner. Her talk was very interesting telling us about her work since being elected in 2020. One of our members, Karen, won a craft competition at the Derbyshire Federation Annual Council Meeting she scored 20/20 which isn't easy with these Derbyshire WI judges! We are proud of her. We welcomed home Julia, one of our team members, she has been away on a long Carribean cruise but sadly we had bad news too. Judith, our lovely President has been in hospital suffering from severe back pain and loss of breath. The cause has been diagnosed as blood clots on her lungs. She is home from hospital now but we are not expecting her back at WI for a while. Here is Darling Jane's message to you all this month... You girls achieve so much together, you may be a small group but you've got some panache! Well done Elaine – brilliant achievement. Have a look at Goose Green, we'll be litter picking there in two weeks time as part of the Great British Spring Clean. I think the daffodils will be at their best then. Kate's mother Nell Hall (President of the Resident's Association) was responsible for organising the Big Daffodil Plant and I helped. As you can see we'd sack loads to plant. Sadly, many of the planting team have died now but I always think of them when the bulbs flower. What a legacy! Jane's report can be found via this link to our WI website: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html You will see that we have some new friends in Twisk, Holland. June, one of our members will be corresponding with Liz a member of a group similar to the WI named 'Vrouwen van Nu'. I am building a page on our WI website and hope it will grow as our NZ page has. Here it is: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/new-friends-in-holland.html With love to you all from us all in Baslow, Ann & Jane 🌷 |
FROM : Ann in Baslow
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 10 March 2024
TO: Denise in NZ
DATE: 10 March 2024
Hello Denise,
Thank you very much for your lovely newsy email received yesterday. I am thrilled to read that you have had your Annual Meeting and that you have a safe and very sound committee of three going forward. Well done to you all for keeping Hukanui-Hamua WI up and running and indeed flourishing even though numbers are low.
Many many congratulations to Elaine for her 1st prizes at the Tararua meeting. To enter four categories and win all four is absolutely amazing. Respect from the Darlings!
I found a photo online posted by the NZ Herald and have added it to the NZ page of our WI website with your photos.
Very well done on raising $500 at the Community Lunch, that is awesome and for such a important charity too. Much hard work went into the planning, cooking, serving and clearing away no doubt. Good job everyone!
Yes, the 'Borders' talk was excellent I hadn't thought of the problems it must have caused during COVID. I am so glad that Judi managed to get over for her treatment.
More news will follow our March meeting. Love to you all from the Baslow Darlings.
Bye for now,
Ann 🌷🇳🇿 🇬🇧
Thank you very much for your lovely newsy email received yesterday. I am thrilled to read that you have had your Annual Meeting and that you have a safe and very sound committee of three going forward. Well done to you all for keeping Hukanui-Hamua WI up and running and indeed flourishing even though numbers are low.
Many many congratulations to Elaine for her 1st prizes at the Tararua meeting. To enter four categories and win all four is absolutely amazing. Respect from the Darlings!
I found a photo online posted by the NZ Herald and have added it to the NZ page of our WI website with your photos.
Very well done on raising $500 at the Community Lunch, that is awesome and for such a important charity too. Much hard work went into the planning, cooking, serving and clearing away no doubt. Good job everyone!
Yes, the 'Borders' talk was excellent I hadn't thought of the problems it must have caused during COVID. I am so glad that Judi managed to get over for her treatment.
More news will follow our March meeting. Love to you all from the Baslow Darlings.
Bye for now,
Ann 🌷🇳🇿 🇬🇧
FROM: Denise in NZ
TO: Ann & Jane in Baslow
DATE: 9 MARCH 2024
TO: Ann & Jane in Baslow
DATE: 9 MARCH 2024
Greetings to all the Baslow Darlings,
We had our AGM, Committee Meeting and March meeting last Wednesday. Only 5 of us there out of 11, but we don’t stand on tradition and can’t be hanging around to get a quorum, it is what it is these days! I am still President and Pat Holden my secretary, with Elaine Dougherty my Treasurer! We are an efficient trio! We planned our year’s calendar in the February meeting and hope that the year pans out well. Elaine entered her items for the National competitions at the Tararua Federation AGM on Friday (held at the Dannevirke Bowling Club) and once again, took out firsts in everything! A book bag that had to be designed around a children’s book. Elaine centred on a Fantail (Piwakawaka - Pee wok a wok a) along with other NZ native birds and it was beautiful. Then she made a ‘quiet book’ for a baby. This was themed around a farmyard and she had animals peeping out from behind doors/hay bales etc. , with zips and buttons for little fingers. Next was a card to be along the lines of the book bag, so it folded out to reveal some exquisite birds. Then a ‘reflective’ photo. Elaine and Doc travelled to Canada last year and by chance, she had a beautiful photo of mountains and a lake. Am sure she will scoop the pool at the Nationals too. These are to be held in Palmerston North at the end of May this year at the NZFWI AGM. The pictures are of Elaine’s trophies – too many for one person to hold! On the left is Felicity Ellison, a Tararua Federation executive member, then our Val holding the Poulsen Trophy for most points ( H-H got that one) then Elaine and then Kay Brabender our Federation President. We enjoyed reading your email and newsletter. Borders huh! The NSW/Queensland border is in Tweed Heads. One side of the road is NSW and the other is QLD. One of my husband’s cousins had to go to Gold Coast hospital for cancer treatment and she had to cross the border to get there. When covid hit, they strictly monitored the borders so no ‘escapees’ got through the roadblocks. Judi had to provide proof that she was going to get treatment. Something that they took for granted for years had changed in an instant. How wonderful that you have so many at WISA that you have to move to a larger room in the hall! You girls are so very pro-active, it is an inspiration to us all. |
We had our Eketahuna Community lunch on Friday and raised $500 for our Rescue Helicopter service. Fed about 39 including helpers. I have thought about starting an ESA – Eketahuna Social afternoon in our church hall, like your WISA!! We used to have a Craft Group in the hall, but the girls have been going to each other’s homes now as they have become good friends from meeting regularly!
OK, we hope this finds you all well and no doubt enjoying the Spring Flowers in the village and in your gardens. Flowers are starting to come to an end here as Autumn sets in.
With love to you all
Denise & the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
OK, we hope this finds you all well and no doubt enjoying the Spring Flowers in the village and in your gardens. Flowers are starting to come to an end here as Autumn sets in.
With love to you all
Denise & the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
February 2024
15 February - Ann and Jane have emailed Denise following Baslow WI's February meeting...
Hello to Denise and our dear friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI,
We hope this monthly email finds you well and managing to keep in touch with each other regularly. We have had a busy time since we last corresponded including, WISA (our WI Social Afternoon), Monthly Chatsworth Walk, a Charity Soup & Sweet Lunch raising money for our Community Transport and then it was time for the Monthly WI meeting when we had Jon Cook talking to us about borders, 'Bordering on the ridiculous'! You can see full details with photos via this link to our website page: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html Jane's report this month is brilliant, as always, and can be seen on this link: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html Jane took the attached photo of snowdrops on the village green in front of The Devonshire Arms. This is next to our Village Hall. Jane thinks one of your member's husbands met some of us there a few years back. I remember meeting up at The Prince of Wales (formerly Rowleys) and sitting outside in the sun having a beer! A nice memory. |
Also attached is a photo of our President Judith who very kindly made a green heart wreath for us to bring out at 'Green Meetings.' This month was a green month and we talked about waste plastic and swapping seeds for spring planting.
We were pleased to enlist three new members this month, taking our membership to 83. We need a big team (committee) to organise everything for them all! I'll stop now, here is a little message from Jane.... Keep your News coming, darlings, it’s so interesting to hear about your NZ life. At times we’re envious, other times in awe but always feeling that we’re a part of your Group. Jane x Bye for now, Ann x 🌷 🏴 🇳🇿 |
From Denise in NZ
15 February 2024:
Thank you Ann.
Have forwarded the email to Pat and husband Keith, who visited with you a few years back.
How did your pop up bistro work? Did you take your coffee machine along? I did that a few years back – pre covid (!) at our church hall for a WI meeting! One of our girls Sue, husband Tony and son Chris have a food van with a coffee machine too. They go to Agricultural Shows, fairs and the like and sports games too. Also on Fridays are in Pahiatua out the front of a bike shop, selling steak sandwiches etc., very popular.
Parsnip and Apple soup sounds delicious, recipe please?
Love from Denise & friends at Hukanui-Hamua WI NZ xx
15 February 2024:
Thank you Ann.
Have forwarded the email to Pat and husband Keith, who visited with you a few years back.
How did your pop up bistro work? Did you take your coffee machine along? I did that a few years back – pre covid (!) at our church hall for a WI meeting! One of our girls Sue, husband Tony and son Chris have a food van with a coffee machine too. They go to Agricultural Shows, fairs and the like and sports games too. Also on Fridays are in Pahiatua out the front of a bike shop, selling steak sandwiches etc., very popular.
Parsnip and Apple soup sounds delicious, recipe please?
Love from Denise & friends at Hukanui-Hamua WI NZ xx
January 2024
13 January - Ann and Jane have emailed Denise following Baslow WI's January meeting...
Hello Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings,
We hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and are now back to normal enjoying plenty of summer sunshine. Here the weather is not seasonal at all, no bright sunny frosty mornings when it's pleasure to walk, just damp dull weather at the moment. Who knows, it is rumoured change is on the way with talk of the white stuff! Our meeting this month was fabulous, we had about 60 members present and welcomed three visitors and two new members. The membership list now stands at 80! |
I have attached Jane's report for the local press so you will get the meeting news from that.
We've lots to look forward to in the coming months, including workshops and of course our regular get-togethers for lunch and book clubs and WISA! (WI Social Afternoons.)
Jane has asked me to add what she calls 'chit-chat' so here we go...
Darlings,
How are you all, I love reading your emails.
I must tell you, the BBC Local News has been filming a mere three miles from Baslow. Four hundred visitors from Scandinavia have arrived unannounced- Waxwings, beautiful birds. They've settled on the trees bordering the Monsal Trail, a disused railway track which runs from Bakewell to Buxton. It was a lovely piece of film showing the birds eating Hawthorne berries as fast as they can and somehow the red berries complemented the flash of red feathers on the Waxwings. They've not been seen in Derbyshire since 1970. So, as you can imagine “Twitchers” have also arrived from far and wide carrying huge telescopic binoculars and cameras. The birds are unperturbed. I'm planning to join their fan club this afternoon.
Keep gossiping!
Love to you all . Jane x
As usual you can see all our news and photos on the website. Our Photo Club is pretty active at the moment too. Click on the links for a quick look.
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/photo-club.html
As always we look forward to receiving news from you.
Please send our love and best wishes for 2024 to all your Darlings from us all in Baslow,
Ann 🌷
We've lots to look forward to in the coming months, including workshops and of course our regular get-togethers for lunch and book clubs and WISA! (WI Social Afternoons.)
Jane has asked me to add what she calls 'chit-chat' so here we go...
Darlings,
How are you all, I love reading your emails.
I must tell you, the BBC Local News has been filming a mere three miles from Baslow. Four hundred visitors from Scandinavia have arrived unannounced- Waxwings, beautiful birds. They've settled on the trees bordering the Monsal Trail, a disused railway track which runs from Bakewell to Buxton. It was a lovely piece of film showing the birds eating Hawthorne berries as fast as they can and somehow the red berries complemented the flash of red feathers on the Waxwings. They've not been seen in Derbyshire since 1970. So, as you can imagine “Twitchers” have also arrived from far and wide carrying huge telescopic binoculars and cameras. The birds are unperturbed. I'm planning to join their fan club this afternoon.
Keep gossiping!
Love to you all . Jane x
As usual you can see all our news and photos on the website. Our Photo Club is pretty active at the moment too. Click on the links for a quick look.
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/photo-club.html
As always we look forward to receiving news from you.
Please send our love and best wishes for 2024 to all your Darlings from us all in Baslow,
Ann 🌷
FROM DENISE IN NZ
TO ANN, JANE AND LIZ
13 JANUARY 2024
Hello there,
Happy New Year to you all too!
Did you take any photos of the Bus Shop drinkies? We love hearing about your comings and goings!!
I bet the Twitchers were there in their hundreds, watching the little Waxwings. Climate change has brought them back!
What a fabulous number of members you have! We will lose another this year as our Gladys is declining rapidly with liver cancer.
It was only in October that she joined us on a visit to our hospice and she said how she felt a fraud, feeling so well. Gladys is a lovely lady, with the most brilliant blue eyes and dazzling smile. We will miss her very much.
Yesterday we farewelled Margaret who was a member until 2 years ago, when poor mobility and ill health and lockdowns at her rest home, made meetings too difficult. Margaret was 84.
We are having a wonderful warm summer for a change. Mid 20s most days, not too hot, whereas other places in NZ are baking in the 30s.
Our next meeting is the 7th February.
OK, tis all from me for now. I am going to go for a paddle in my kayak on our river! Haven’t been for a few days and we are due for some rain on Monday, so best do it now!!
Love to you all
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
TO ANN, JANE AND LIZ
13 JANUARY 2024
Hello there,
Happy New Year to you all too!
Did you take any photos of the Bus Shop drinkies? We love hearing about your comings and goings!!
I bet the Twitchers were there in their hundreds, watching the little Waxwings. Climate change has brought them back!
What a fabulous number of members you have! We will lose another this year as our Gladys is declining rapidly with liver cancer.
It was only in October that she joined us on a visit to our hospice and she said how she felt a fraud, feeling so well. Gladys is a lovely lady, with the most brilliant blue eyes and dazzling smile. We will miss her very much.
Yesterday we farewelled Margaret who was a member until 2 years ago, when poor mobility and ill health and lockdowns at her rest home, made meetings too difficult. Margaret was 84.
We are having a wonderful warm summer for a change. Mid 20s most days, not too hot, whereas other places in NZ are baking in the 30s.
Our next meeting is the 7th February.
OK, tis all from me for now. I am going to go for a paddle in my kayak on our river! Haven’t been for a few days and we are due for some rain on Monday, so best do it now!!
Love to you all
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
December 2023
This month Ann has corresponded with Denise see their emails below...
To Ann in Baslow From Denise in NZ 13 December 2023 Hello Ann and the Baslow Darlings, We have just had our institute meeting.One week late as Elaine's husband wasn't well last Wednesday, so we pushed it out. I don't have Liz's email address to send this to you as I think it is your WI meeting today? Eight of us at the meeting today. We had a cuppa, then made a decorated paper gift bag and a Christmas card, courtesy of Elaine. They all turned out very nicely! Not as good as our instructor though!!! After lunch, we made posies with little tags saying "I am a lonely bouquet, please take me home, with thoughts from the Hukanui-Hamua Institute. Had lots of lovely flowers to choose from as the summer flowers are all coming out now which is lovely. Not much to talk about really, apart from Elaine and Doc after having grazed a steer for H-H for 18 months, sent him to the works and we received just over $2,000. A wonderful way to 'fundraise'. At our February or March meeting, we will decide where to donate too, as well as keeping funds aside for National AGM expenses. We are all getting older and slower, but our friendship in institute is such an important part of our lives, as is our connection with Baslow. So, a very Merry Christmas to you all, With Love from Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings. Photo of the girls: From end of the table nearest camera is : Barbara, Christine, Val, Elaine, Lesley, Pat and Sue........................Denise is on the end of the camera !!! |
Your lonely bouquets are a wonderful idea. It fits with our NFWI resolution 'Alleviating Loneliness'. In a different way we have been doing that at Baslow WI and we have shared our 'Monday Shout-outs' to WI members via email. This has been successful for many years on our Facebook page but we thought that during the dark, damp autumn and winter months it would be a good idea to share with our WI members via their emails. We have had some good replies. Take a look if you are interested, the answers are on our web page: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html
At our WI meeting we opened your Christmas gift. It is absolutely gorgeous and will be used as part of the Christmas decorations in Baslow Village Hall in years to come. Thanks you VERY much. We will treasure it.
Your fundraising is amazing, well done to Elaine and Doc for bringing the steer on so well. Things like this show the massive difference between our WIs and it's great to keep contact, sharing information over the years. Our next fundraiser will be our Soup & Sweet lunch in aid of Bakewell & Eyam Community Transport at the end of January. Also we have manged to donate a nice amount to the Baslow Village Hall Flood Damage Appeal. We are so grateful to the Trustees of the hall who have managed the clean-up brilliantly and kept the hall open to all of us.
Darling Jane's report to the local press is as usual awesome! You can read it on her page of our website: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
You asked for a photo of those of us who contact you, so here we are at our 104th birthday lunch at Sickleholme Golf Club: Left to right, Liz, Jane, Julia and Ann.
Don't mention getting older Denise! We are all feeling it but we keep on keeping on as they say!
We send love and all the best to our dear friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI, happy Christmas and all the very best for the new year.
Ann, Liz, Jane and Darlings at Baslow WI 🤶🏻🎄
At our WI meeting we opened your Christmas gift. It is absolutely gorgeous and will be used as part of the Christmas decorations in Baslow Village Hall in years to come. Thanks you VERY much. We will treasure it.
Your fundraising is amazing, well done to Elaine and Doc for bringing the steer on so well. Things like this show the massive difference between our WIs and it's great to keep contact, sharing information over the years. Our next fundraiser will be our Soup & Sweet lunch in aid of Bakewell & Eyam Community Transport at the end of January. Also we have manged to donate a nice amount to the Baslow Village Hall Flood Damage Appeal. We are so grateful to the Trustees of the hall who have managed the clean-up brilliantly and kept the hall open to all of us.
Darling Jane's report to the local press is as usual awesome! You can read it on her page of our website: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
You asked for a photo of those of us who contact you, so here we are at our 104th birthday lunch at Sickleholme Golf Club: Left to right, Liz, Jane, Julia and Ann.
Don't mention getting older Denise! We are all feeling it but we keep on keeping on as they say!
We send love and all the best to our dear friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI, happy Christmas and all the very best for the new year.
Ann, Liz, Jane and Darlings at Baslow WI 🤶🏻🎄
November 2023
As you will see from the content below Julia has decided to leave her role as Baslow WI's Link Correspondent with Denise in Hukanui-Hamua WI, NZ. She will be keeping contact with Denise privately as they are proper 'penpals' now!
We thank Julia for all her hard work over many years, we have really appreciated all she has done keeping us close to our friends down under!
We look forward to continuing sharing WI news with Denise for many years to come. 🇳🇿 🇬🇧
We thank Julia for all her hard work over many years, we have really appreciated all she has done keeping us close to our friends down under!
We look forward to continuing sharing WI news with Denise for many years to come. 🇳🇿 🇬🇧
From: Julia and Jane in Baslow
Date: 13 November 2023 Subject: November news from Baslow WI To: Denise in New Zealand My Mother had one of those – Janet and Paul Barrass We never stopped laughing. Even Janet’s appearance brought mirth; what denier were those lisle stockings? Surrounded by postwar tins of food, medication and paraphernalia they created a time warp of song and memories. Excellent. Show and Tell – a Kitchen Implement over 100 years old We could set up a museum. Gill Watson’s history of a toasting fork was a drama in itself, Lorna’s wooden salt safe, Judy’s granny’s teapot, Jayne’s granny’s vintage pie funnel, Kate’s washboard, Jill’s laundry stick, my washing dolly and Sue’s granny’s Scottish knitting needle holder, all vintage treasures. Julia Warne – WI Report Rewriting, correcting, expunging pleonasm and exposing grammatical blunders ad nauseam, all of which Julia refers to as typos, not my errors. What a Saint. Together we battled computer glitches, upgrades, frozen screens and power cuts but now Julia is taking retirement, shelving her dictionary, capping her red biro and closing her laptop. I’ll miss her expertise and I’ll miss our partnership. |
Lunch Club at Hassop Cafe
I managed to get the last parking space, just sneaked in by the wooden gatepost. It was busy but we’d reserved a table in the back room, so were fine. Pumpkins, cobwebs and spiders adorned the shopping area, beautifully displayed and tempting to buy. We were a small select group of eight. I think the other Lunch Clubbers were saving themselves for our Big 104th Birthday Celebration at Sickleholme Golf Club.
Kate Treves’ Birthday Cake
Delicious. Hours of selection and preparation, sampling ingredients and finally cooking cake of the year. Irresistibly moreish, darlings.
Christmas Decorations in Baslow Village Hall
Ann McPhie has negotiated the prestigious honour for our WI of decorating the Village Hall for Christmas. It’s got to look good because St. Anne’s School Choir are singing carols for us in December.
Liz Birkby
Welcoming Liz to our WI Team. Nothing better than a new Team Member, fresh ideas and inspiration.
13th December WI Tea, St Anne’s School Choir, Kate Treves and Iris Holt – Getting ready for Christmas. Dress Code: Seasonal Sparkle.
20th December 10.30am Aperitifs in Baslow’s Bus Shelter, then Tinsel Walk and Buffet Lunch at the Cavendish Club, Edensor, with Lorna Wilson and Vikki Watson.
I managed to get the last parking space, just sneaked in by the wooden gatepost. It was busy but we’d reserved a table in the back room, so were fine. Pumpkins, cobwebs and spiders adorned the shopping area, beautifully displayed and tempting to buy. We were a small select group of eight. I think the other Lunch Clubbers were saving themselves for our Big 104th Birthday Celebration at Sickleholme Golf Club.
Kate Treves’ Birthday Cake
Delicious. Hours of selection and preparation, sampling ingredients and finally cooking cake of the year. Irresistibly moreish, darlings.
Christmas Decorations in Baslow Village Hall
Ann McPhie has negotiated the prestigious honour for our WI of decorating the Village Hall for Christmas. It’s got to look good because St. Anne’s School Choir are singing carols for us in December.
Liz Birkby
Welcoming Liz to our WI Team. Nothing better than a new Team Member, fresh ideas and inspiration.
13th December WI Tea, St Anne’s School Choir, Kate Treves and Iris Holt – Getting ready for Christmas. Dress Code: Seasonal Sparkle.
20th December 10.30am Aperitifs in Baslow’s Bus Shelter, then Tinsel Walk and Buffet Lunch at the Cavendish Club, Edensor, with Lorna Wilson and Vikki Watson.
From: Denise in NZ
Date: Tue, 7 Nov 2023, 19:50 Subject: November is here! To: Julia in Baslow Good morning dear Julia and the Baslow Darlings. We had our meeting last Wednesday. Those meetings on the 1st day of the new month always catch me out! 6 of us met at Barbara’s home out in the country a bit. Nothing much to discuss, but we give toys at Christmas to our Help N Hand in Pahiatua, who distribute toys to families. They also do the foodbank and Christmas food parcels. In October we gave grocery items to our Hospice in Palmerston North. Every little bit helps so many organisations. |
We are still getting cool mornings – 9 deg this morning, so the fire is going again! A cold snap is coming through from the South Island, but it is clearing.
We hope that your village hall is drying out. After all the new décor a few years ago, you get hit with flooding. You are lucky to have other places nearby to have meetings etc., As for the bus shelter, well that had better be in prime condition for your Christmas Tinsel Walk!
Pat & Keith are back from their trip to Australia, Barbara and Keith are back from their cruise to Fiji (and booked on a Country & Western cruise early in the new year!), Christine has finished feeding the 500 calves now, and now life for most of us will generally be back to normal amidst Christmas music and adverts everywhere.I reckon they need a law to have no adverts until December 1st!!! Am I just being a grinch?
We will be thinking of you all on the 14th November as you celebrate your 104th anniversary. Hukanui-Hamua has a few more years to go to get to 100!
Take care, keep well and warm
Love to you all
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x x
We hope that your village hall is drying out. After all the new décor a few years ago, you get hit with flooding. You are lucky to have other places nearby to have meetings etc., As for the bus shelter, well that had better be in prime condition for your Christmas Tinsel Walk!
Pat & Keith are back from their trip to Australia, Barbara and Keith are back from their cruise to Fiji (and booked on a Country & Western cruise early in the new year!), Christine has finished feeding the 500 calves now, and now life for most of us will generally be back to normal amidst Christmas music and adverts everywhere.I reckon they need a law to have no adverts until December 1st!!! Am I just being a grinch?
We will be thinking of you all on the 14th November as you celebrate your 104th anniversary. Hukanui-Hamua has a few more years to go to get to 100!
Take care, keep well and warm
Love to you all
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x x
October 2023
FROM: Denise in NZ
TO: Ann, Jane & Julia in Baslow DATE: 20 October 2023 Hope you all managed ok yesterday. Julia said the river/weather was to peak around 4pm. Don’t know if you are glued to the tv, watching rugby or not – my husband is here, but I have more important things to do – such as Wordle, Spelling bee and Connection from the New York Times puzzles!!! I send my Wordle results to my daughter in Palmerston North, my husband’s niece in Christchurch and my sister in law in Adelaide ( at a later time though as I got a growling from my brother when I first shared my score at their 6.30am time!!!) |
I was very unwell last week and desperate for some relief from my thumping head. I only usually take paracetamol, but it wasn’t doing anything and asked my daughter to bring over some Iboprufen. She asked if I could take it – “Just give it to me” I said, however, she read the box and found it wasn’t to be taken if the person had an aspirin allergy!!!! Just as well that she was on the ball. Just enlarging on salicylic acid………………….It is in windfall apples and possibly pears too. We had a christening at church years ago and carrot cake was there. I had a tiny piece and 20mins later my anaphylactic symptoms started – swelling mouth, tongue/chest/eyes and rasping breath. Got home and took some antihistamines but was close to calling ambulance. I rang the cake maker and asked what was in it – concentrated apple juice!!! Then a friend at church was a scientist and she told me about willowbark. So many hidden traps. A lot of foods have SA in them and I found I have slight reactions when eating bean sprouts/spring onions etc., together as they add up.
I also enjoy watching Island Medics on tv at present – a show about the medics on the Shetlands. Last episode they had a guy from an oil rig who had eaten nuts in a cake and it set him off. He hadn’t had a reaction for years, so didn’t have two epi-pens and left his at home. Anyway, they said that if everything swells, then pressure is put on the heart and a heart attack can follow! That made me sit up and take notice. I have an epi-pen in my bag, but might get another for the car too.
Yes, I was able to read Jane’s report from your link and print it off with photos too! We love seeing you all. Do you think that you could get a photo taken (maybe at your birthday) of yourself Ann, Julia, Jane and a few others???
We have about 1800 ewes, so that means about 2000 lambs. We aren’t that concerned about lambing percentages. As long as it is around 110% that is our norm. The weather often hits us, so better to have a ewe and lamb or twins but no more. We are mainly Romney with Suffolk and Romney rams. There is no money in wool at present, so it is mainly for meat.
I get so cross that we can’t go to a large hardware store and see woollen insulation on the shelves. The only insulation is ‘earthwool’ which is fibreglass. We have woollen insulation here in our roof and it is absolutely beautiful. I also use woollen weedmat on my garden. Not cheap, but a good natural way. I had to go online to source both lots. Made in Christchurch and Hamilton. Bunnings (hardware) were helpful and got the wool insulation for me, but I asked why it wasn’t actually in their stores or on their website. Must look and see now.
A few months ago I saw that our govt ( not anymore) had sealed a contract($6M) with a US company to make nylon carpet tiles for small and rural schools. I just couldn’t believe that, so wrote to our paper and it took off with lots of other comments in various papers and on TV etc. The govt are committed to supplying this rubbish, but a carpet manufacturer is now giving a 30% discount to schools to use woollen carpet ( no freebie from govt though- although this could change with our new govt). From now on, the govt has said it will try to use wool. This was our previous govt, so hope that National who generally support farmers will get on the bandwagon. Hooray, farmers are finally getting some help. They need to use wool insulation in social housing too and all govt buildings, plus carpets.
Right, enough soapbox for me! I am looking forward to doing some garden re-arranging today – after I have done the church finances for our Vestry meeting tomorrow!!!
Sorry about my garbled email!!!
Love to you all
Denise & the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings! x x
I also enjoy watching Island Medics on tv at present – a show about the medics on the Shetlands. Last episode they had a guy from an oil rig who had eaten nuts in a cake and it set him off. He hadn’t had a reaction for years, so didn’t have two epi-pens and left his at home. Anyway, they said that if everything swells, then pressure is put on the heart and a heart attack can follow! That made me sit up and take notice. I have an epi-pen in my bag, but might get another for the car too.
Yes, I was able to read Jane’s report from your link and print it off with photos too! We love seeing you all. Do you think that you could get a photo taken (maybe at your birthday) of yourself Ann, Julia, Jane and a few others???
We have about 1800 ewes, so that means about 2000 lambs. We aren’t that concerned about lambing percentages. As long as it is around 110% that is our norm. The weather often hits us, so better to have a ewe and lamb or twins but no more. We are mainly Romney with Suffolk and Romney rams. There is no money in wool at present, so it is mainly for meat.
I get so cross that we can’t go to a large hardware store and see woollen insulation on the shelves. The only insulation is ‘earthwool’ which is fibreglass. We have woollen insulation here in our roof and it is absolutely beautiful. I also use woollen weedmat on my garden. Not cheap, but a good natural way. I had to go online to source both lots. Made in Christchurch and Hamilton. Bunnings (hardware) were helpful and got the wool insulation for me, but I asked why it wasn’t actually in their stores or on their website. Must look and see now.
A few months ago I saw that our govt ( not anymore) had sealed a contract($6M) with a US company to make nylon carpet tiles for small and rural schools. I just couldn’t believe that, so wrote to our paper and it took off with lots of other comments in various papers and on TV etc. The govt are committed to supplying this rubbish, but a carpet manufacturer is now giving a 30% discount to schools to use woollen carpet ( no freebie from govt though- although this could change with our new govt). From now on, the govt has said it will try to use wool. This was our previous govt, so hope that National who generally support farmers will get on the bandwagon. Hooray, farmers are finally getting some help. They need to use wool insulation in social housing too and all govt buildings, plus carpets.
Right, enough soapbox for me! I am looking forward to doing some garden re-arranging today – after I have done the church finances for our Vestry meeting tomorrow!!!
Sorry about my garbled email!!!
Love to you all
Denise & the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings! x x
ooOoo
FROM: Ann, Julia & Jane in Baslow
TO: Denise and friends in NZ DATE: 20 October 2023 Hi Denise, What a lovely surprise to wake up to your email, thank you that was quick! Yes, we are lucky to have our village spaces, the green by our Village Hall is starting to flood this morning as we have very heavy rain fall and I woke up to a power cut. Luckily it's back on now so I've had my coffee hit! Our hall usually manages to stay dry even though the green and car park get very wet. I will forward Jane's recipe for the Apple Strudel if it's not under lock and key! |
I was interested to read you paragraph about being allergic to aspirin and how it is in windfall apples and willow. My daughter is allergic to apples but not aspirin!
I think I can recall conversations about Margaret in your WI. We have lost so many of our friends over the years haven't we?
Yes, we are looking forward to our birthday celebration. It won't be in the Village Hall it's at the Golf Club again this year. We will be decorating the hall for Christmas though!
Were you able to read Jane's report and our meeting report via the links to the website I sent. If not please let me know and I will send Jane's report separately.
I wish you luck with your lambs, it must be lovely to see them out in the spring sunshine at the moment. Four days docking that's quite a job! How many ewes do you have in the flock? My sister-in-law in Dorset lives on a sheep farm, they breed the Dorset Downs.
I totally agree, the worldwide news is very upsetting I fear for our children and grandchildren growing up in this strange/changing world.
Enjoy the Labour Day weekend, Denise,
Bye for now,
Ann (+ Julia & Jane) xxx 🌷🐑
I think I can recall conversations about Margaret in your WI. We have lost so many of our friends over the years haven't we?
Yes, we are looking forward to our birthday celebration. It won't be in the Village Hall it's at the Golf Club again this year. We will be decorating the hall for Christmas though!
Were you able to read Jane's report and our meeting report via the links to the website I sent. If not please let me know and I will send Jane's report separately.
I wish you luck with your lambs, it must be lovely to see them out in the spring sunshine at the moment. Four days docking that's quite a job! How many ewes do you have in the flock? My sister-in-law in Dorset lives on a sheep farm, they breed the Dorset Downs.
I totally agree, the worldwide news is very upsetting I fear for our children and grandchildren growing up in this strange/changing world.
Enjoy the Labour Day weekend, Denise,
Bye for now,
Ann (+ Julia & Jane) xxx 🌷🐑
ooOoo
FROM; Denise Gavin
TO: Ann, Jane, Julia & Baslow Darlings
DATE: 20 October 2023
SUBJECT: Reply to yesterday's email
TO: Ann, Jane, Julia & Baslow Darlings
DATE: 20 October 2023
SUBJECT: Reply to yesterday's email
Hello Ann, Jane, Julia and the Baslow Darlings.
Good to hear from you all and lucky that you have a deputy reporter to ease Julia’s load. You might think I am straying off the subject, but did you know that the peel of windfall apples contains salicylic acid – which is a natural aspirin – also in the bark of willow trees which is often used in natural medications. A few apples is fine, but to have them in concentrated amounts, gives the allergy. One of our old WI girls, Margaret Bird, used to make apple and mint chutney/sauce and it is delicious. Margaret passed away 2 years ago now and was a gifted and passionate home maker and WI member. |
You will all be looking forward to your birthday celebrations in November. The hall will be bedecked I am sure.
Our next meeting is at Barbara’s home. Pat won’t be there as she and Keith are going on the Indian Pacific train from Sydney to Perth. Keith likes taking Pat on holidays, bless his heart.
Elaine is just back from Canada and she and Dennis had a wonderful time over there, with her identical twin sister Shirley from Adelaide.
I have just had a dose of Vertigto, chest infection and dehydration! Made history in going to the dr in my dressing gown. I was remembering when doctors came to the house when someone was very unwell. Not these days! However, I was lucky that they told my daughter to bring me in as I was and took care of me for 4 hours at the medical centre. A jab in the bottom for vertigo made a world of difference as did the IV drip. I was very thankful and that helped my recovery hugely.
Spring is upon us and today we are docking lambs tails here on the farm. This usually takes about 4 days. This helps to stop the lambs from getting fly blown and although the Greenies are against this, they would be horrified to see what happens if the flies get to the lambs. Horrible things are those Australian flies!
We can also see how our lambing went as we don’t do a lambing beat, just leaving the ewes and lambs to themselves.
We are so saddened to hear/watch/read of the war in the Middle East. What a world we have with floods, earthquakes, bushfires, landslides and then man made war. I think we need more women in power around the world.
So, will leave it to you now! Have a good weekend (a holiday weekend here for Labour Day on Monday). Keep well and dry.
Love to you all,
Denise and the H-H Darlings x x x
Our next meeting is at Barbara’s home. Pat won’t be there as she and Keith are going on the Indian Pacific train from Sydney to Perth. Keith likes taking Pat on holidays, bless his heart.
Elaine is just back from Canada and she and Dennis had a wonderful time over there, with her identical twin sister Shirley from Adelaide.
I have just had a dose of Vertigto, chest infection and dehydration! Made history in going to the dr in my dressing gown. I was remembering when doctors came to the house when someone was very unwell. Not these days! However, I was lucky that they told my daughter to bring me in as I was and took care of me for 4 hours at the medical centre. A jab in the bottom for vertigo made a world of difference as did the IV drip. I was very thankful and that helped my recovery hugely.
Spring is upon us and today we are docking lambs tails here on the farm. This usually takes about 4 days. This helps to stop the lambs from getting fly blown and although the Greenies are against this, they would be horrified to see what happens if the flies get to the lambs. Horrible things are those Australian flies!
We can also see how our lambing went as we don’t do a lambing beat, just leaving the ewes and lambs to themselves.
We are so saddened to hear/watch/read of the war in the Middle East. What a world we have with floods, earthquakes, bushfires, landslides and then man made war. I think we need more women in power around the world.
So, will leave it to you now! Have a good weekend (a holiday weekend here for Labour Day on Monday). Keep well and dry.
Love to you all,
Denise and the H-H Darlings x x x
ooOoo
From - Ann & Jane in Baslow
Copied - Julia
To - Denise in New Zealand
Date - Thursday 19 October 2023
Subject - Hello from Baslow WI
Copied - Julia
To - Denise in New Zealand
Date - Thursday 19 October 2023
Subject - Hello from Baslow WI
Hi Denise and friends,
It's me and Jane this month as poor Julia is having trouble with her eyes and finding typing on her laptop difficult. Here is the news in brief as they say! We've had a VERY busy month here in Baslow... On Saturday 7 October it was Apple Day. Luckily the sun shone for us. A group of us met at 10am to set up two gazebos at the Jubilee Orchard. This is not an easy task although we all think we are strong women we needed the help of husbands and partners to get the structures up. Then came the real work setting up tables and selling, preserves, crafts and hot drinks. Janette and Jane tried a new thing this year: 'A blind date with a book!' Books were wrapped and labelled with a brief description of the book stuck on the front. £1 for adult books, 50p for the children's books. There was a cookery competition and Darling Jane won with her Apple Strudel. She was delighted of course and brought her certificate to WI for us all to see! I've plenty of apples and been busy making my favourite apple chutney, recipe attached. It is popular on our Bring & Buy Table at WI! Our October monthly meeting was well attended, about 62 members and two visitors came to hear Kim Kerry's talk about yarn. After tea seven members showed some fantastic craft work they have created using yarn. |
Apart from these two big days, we've had walks, Lunch Club and kept ourselves very busy as always.
You can see all our photos taken at our meeting and Apple Day on our web page, click and go:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html
and Jane's report is on her page:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
We send best wishes to all our friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI. You will be looking forward to some better weather now as we move quickly into autumn shorter days are on their way for us. We will be putting our clocks back one hour at the end of October which makes a huge difference. We have lots to look forward to though with preparations for our WI's 104th birthday lunch and dare we mention Christmas!
With love to you all and your families, keep safe,
Ann, Jane and all the Baslow Darlings x 🍎🍏
You can see all our photos taken at our meeting and Apple Day on our web page, click and go:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/news--photos.html
and Jane's report is on her page:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
We send best wishes to all our friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI. You will be looking forward to some better weather now as we move quickly into autumn shorter days are on their way for us. We will be putting our clocks back one hour at the end of October which makes a huge difference. We have lots to look forward to though with preparations for our WI's 104th birthday lunch and dare we mention Christmas!
With love to you all and your families, keep safe,
Ann, Jane and all the Baslow Darlings x 🍎🍏
September 2023
Images: Clip Art Library and Stuff.co.nz
Good morning Julia and the Baslow Darlings,
We hope this finds you all well and enjoying Spring!
We had our meeting yesterday down at Colleen’s home in Masterton. Colleen works full-time as a cook at a pre-school, so can’t usually come to our meetings. However, she had recently had a back operation and goes back to work next week, so we happily travelled down to her home. Operation went very well and she finds she is standing taller (though still a shortie!!) and her breathing is improved too. Gwen, Colleen’s Mum is a member too and doing well this year at 87.
Keith dropped Pat off as she has had a fall recently, so using a stick and Keith is driving her around and doing a bit of cooking too – loves the power in the kitchen!!! Thiink as we age, we are all going a little more slowly.
There were 8 of there. Elaine is in Canada, Christine was feeding calves, Gladys had a Dr appointment and Sue had other commitments!
Nothing much to discuss at the meeting, so we had a good chat and a nice shared lunch instead!
September is Sustainability Month for WI. We talked about Baslow and their rubbish collection efforts, not so easy in the country though. Will stick to Op shopping I think and recycling!
So, that’s about all for now. September is your first meeting for the coming WI year?
I thought of you last week whilst hearing about the NZ rider at Burghley. Tim Price I think?
Keep well and safe,
Love to you all,
Denise and the H-H Darlings x x
August 2023
From: Julia in Baslow
To: Denise in New Zealand 3 August 2023 Subject: August Already! Dear Denise and all the Hukanui-Hamua WI Darlings I notice you signed off as just Hukanui, so is that what you are called now? It's good you and Val managed to hold the meeting and have a good get-together. Do you think you are likely to recruit any new younger members? You are so successful with craft competitions, must be the envy of others. We enjoyed some beautiful weather in June but July really has been a washout. It rained on St. Swithin's day 15th July and the legend is that if it rains on that day there will be rain for 40 days. So far, it's proving to be true. Many days there has been very heavy rain, other times sunshine and showers. The forecast for the next few days isn't good but hopefully by the middle of next week there may be an improvement. We are really with you regarding some of the decisions politicians and councillors make. Birmingham and the surrounding area is a renowned heavy manufacturing centre. In Victoria Square in the heart of the city, there are manhole covers (I think) or maybe just decorative metal plaques, proudly declaring they were designed and manufactured in Texas, USA. Ann has found a picture of a 'Campaign for wool NZ' which she is going to put on the Baslow WI website. Check it out in a few days. |
We don't have a meeting in August, so no report from Jane. There was a visit to nearby Thornbridge Hall ten days ago. I'm sure Jane will report on it next time. However, Christine does manage to keep WISA going which is great, even for those, like me who don't do knitting or sewing, to drop in for tea and a chat.
Walking round the village this morning, I met Deb Bax. Her family, based in Wellington, are currently on holiday in South Island introducing their children to skiing. She sends her best wishes.
Hope the lambing goes well.
Lots of love to you all from
Julia and all the Baslow WI Darlings xx
PS from Julia: Forgot to say, the netball is really exciting. Looking forward to the semi's. Jx
Two quick replies from Denise:
1. Gee, some of the teams have improved. It is good to see! Yes, bring on the semis!!! X x x
2. Just forgot to add Hamua. Definitely Hukanui-Hamua!!
From: Denise in NZ
To: Julia in Baslow Date: Thursday 3 Aug 2023 at 4:21 AM Subject: August already! Hello dear Julia and the Baslow Darlings. We hope you have been surviving or maybe enjoying your lovely hot weather. I see though where a large storm is about to hit Wales and Southern England, so perhaps summer is at an end! We have had such a wet year to date, but although most months haven’t had the rain of previous years, it is just little bits most days which keep the mud going! A cold snap yesterday and today, has brought snow to the ranges nearby. |
Think it is 3 deg – I suppose you are used to that temperature in your winter!!!!
We had WI yesterday, but just Val (hosted at her home) and myself. Have a few who aren’t well at present and for some it was just too cold and wet to brave the conditions I think. Nevermind, Val and I had a good catchup, but we certainly read the Baslow newsletter! The genealogy talk sounded good and your Birmingham Gardens walk too. Hands in your pockets that day!!! Cameras everywhere!
Nothing much to report really. It is calving time here, so all the dairy farmers are busy and lambing isn’t far away either. We haven’t been able to shear our ewes this winter (we shear ½ our 1800 ewes) so they can go to the back of the farm to lamb quietly. We have belly crutched them, so at least the lambs can find the teats amongst all the wool. Will just have to keep an eye on them all in case they get cast (stuck). Strong wool (not merino) is worth so very little here at present, that a lot of farmers are shearing as little as possible as it costs more to shear them than we get for the wool.
We are up in arms at present as our Ministry of Education chose to order 600,000 nylon carpet squares from the USA to carpet 800 small and rural schools. With the wool here, why couldn’t they have used woollen carpets – fire resistant, warmer and on it goes! Lots of letters to the papers (including one from me!!!) and petitions going. We hope they learn a lesson from this as they also carpet Kainga- Ora (state housing) homes with nylon carpet too. Wools of NZ said their tender was rejected for this.
Elections are 100 days or less here, so every night on the news and in the papers is about elections and what politician has stepped out of place of late. Elections will be interesting. No Jacinda to carry Labour this time around.
OK. My family are all well at present, thank goodness and we hope yours are too.
Love from all the Hukanui-Darlings x x x
We had WI yesterday, but just Val (hosted at her home) and myself. Have a few who aren’t well at present and for some it was just too cold and wet to brave the conditions I think. Nevermind, Val and I had a good catchup, but we certainly read the Baslow newsletter! The genealogy talk sounded good and your Birmingham Gardens walk too. Hands in your pockets that day!!! Cameras everywhere!
Nothing much to report really. It is calving time here, so all the dairy farmers are busy and lambing isn’t far away either. We haven’t been able to shear our ewes this winter (we shear ½ our 1800 ewes) so they can go to the back of the farm to lamb quietly. We have belly crutched them, so at least the lambs can find the teats amongst all the wool. Will just have to keep an eye on them all in case they get cast (stuck). Strong wool (not merino) is worth so very little here at present, that a lot of farmers are shearing as little as possible as it costs more to shear them than we get for the wool.
We are up in arms at present as our Ministry of Education chose to order 600,000 nylon carpet squares from the USA to carpet 800 small and rural schools. With the wool here, why couldn’t they have used woollen carpets – fire resistant, warmer and on it goes! Lots of letters to the papers (including one from me!!!) and petitions going. We hope they learn a lesson from this as they also carpet Kainga- Ora (state housing) homes with nylon carpet too. Wools of NZ said their tender was rejected for this.
Elections are 100 days or less here, so every night on the news and in the papers is about elections and what politician has stepped out of place of late. Elections will be interesting. No Jacinda to carry Labour this time around.
OK. My family are all well at present, thank goodness and we hope yours are too.
Love from all the Hukanui-Darlings x x x
July 2023
On 31 July we celebrated International Friendship Day, our friend down under were in our thoughts.
To: Julia and Ann in Baslow
From: Denise in New Zeland
Date: 6 July 2023
Hello there dear Julia, Ann and the Baslow Darlings,
We had our July meeting at Pat’s home yesterday. The last meeting we will have there as they have sold and are moving into Masterton proper as opposed to living 10 mins out on a 1.5 acre section! Pat is 80 next week, so we had a small celebration. Not quite like a bus shelter celebration though!! 8/12 of us were there, which seems to be the ‘common denominator’ for our meetings! Gladys isn’t at all well at present and is in hospital. Prayers go her way.
We read the newsletter and Sue and Pat (both from the UK originally) were thinking about where the place names were.
The cheeses sounded great and Pat is going to tell her family to get some!! Sue said her son ordered her a wheel of cheese……….can’t remember the variety………from the UK. They had some and then Sue froze the rest in wedges.
We looked at the Times article on the Everest summit. NZ hasn’t had much about it at all, but this morning on breakfast TV they were talking to Peter Hilary and Jamling Norgay (the son of Tensing Norgay), who are doing a world tour, talking about their famous fathers and indeed the climbs they have done themselves. They even met King Charles!!
Pat showed us a quilt she is doing – another very talented patchworker. Things do be put away for a few weeks with family there for the birthday and then their move on 28th July.
Not much else to report this meeting. However, we are having a Victoria Sponge competition for our September meeting and will invite our local federation president, Kaye Brabender to judge them! We had a discussion about real cream vs frosting in the middle and did it need strawberry jam! Sue and Pat said frosting and not cream, but we will check our recipe and see.
We have also given pyjamas to our local hospital and to Wellington Hospital as there appeals for Jammies in June. We have given to our hospitals for a couple of years now, but other charities are getting on the bandwagon too.
So, til next time!
Keep well and enjoy summer
Love to all the Baslow Darlings from the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
From: Denise in New Zeland
Date: 6 July 2023
Hello there dear Julia, Ann and the Baslow Darlings,
We had our July meeting at Pat’s home yesterday. The last meeting we will have there as they have sold and are moving into Masterton proper as opposed to living 10 mins out on a 1.5 acre section! Pat is 80 next week, so we had a small celebration. Not quite like a bus shelter celebration though!! 8/12 of us were there, which seems to be the ‘common denominator’ for our meetings! Gladys isn’t at all well at present and is in hospital. Prayers go her way.
We read the newsletter and Sue and Pat (both from the UK originally) were thinking about where the place names were.
The cheeses sounded great and Pat is going to tell her family to get some!! Sue said her son ordered her a wheel of cheese……….can’t remember the variety………from the UK. They had some and then Sue froze the rest in wedges.
We looked at the Times article on the Everest summit. NZ hasn’t had much about it at all, but this morning on breakfast TV they were talking to Peter Hilary and Jamling Norgay (the son of Tensing Norgay), who are doing a world tour, talking about their famous fathers and indeed the climbs they have done themselves. They even met King Charles!!
Pat showed us a quilt she is doing – another very talented patchworker. Things do be put away for a few weeks with family there for the birthday and then their move on 28th July.
Not much else to report this meeting. However, we are having a Victoria Sponge competition for our September meeting and will invite our local federation president, Kaye Brabender to judge them! We had a discussion about real cream vs frosting in the middle and did it need strawberry jam! Sue and Pat said frosting and not cream, but we will check our recipe and see.
We have also given pyjamas to our local hospital and to Wellington Hospital as there appeals for Jammies in June. We have given to our hospitals for a couple of years now, but other charities are getting on the bandwagon too.
So, til next time!
Keep well and enjoy summer
Love to all the Baslow Darlings from the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x
June 2023
To: Ann in Baslow
Date: 15 June 2022 From: Denise in NZ Subject: June 2023 Hello Ann and the Baslow Darlings, It is good that Julia can pass the baton! Another snap – Tararua Federation have a Victoria Sponge competition for the September ½ yearly meeting!!! I was thinking of having a practice for it soon! I have a chocolate sponge recipe that I make for all the birthdays/celebrations. It was from our time in Wellington about 35 years ago. |
Another Denise gave it to me and unfortunately, she passed away in her late 40s so the recipe has special memories of her.
Our Father’s Day is the 1st Sunday in September, so a while to go there! Our Mother’s Day/Mothering Sundays are different too!
We have a beautiful day here today after a heavy frost, yesterday was a thick fog until the afternoon, so I guess the frost is better, but it kills any growth.
Will give Elaine your congratulations and have printed out the email too.
We love reading what you are all up to.
Keep safe, well and enjoy your summer weather!
Love to you all,
Denise x x
Our Father’s Day is the 1st Sunday in September, so a while to go there! Our Mother’s Day/Mothering Sundays are different too!
We have a beautiful day here today after a heavy frost, yesterday was a thick fog until the afternoon, so I guess the frost is better, but it kills any growth.
Will give Elaine your congratulations and have printed out the email too.
We love reading what you are all up to.
Keep safe, well and enjoy your summer weather!
Love to you all,
Denise x x
To: Denise in NZ
Date: 15 June 2023, 10.30am From: Ann in Baslow Subject: June 2023 Hi Denise, Julia was away for our June WI meeting so you've got me this month! Thank you very much for your email dated 7 June. It was a lovely read. We were thrilled to hear about Elaine's wonderful achievements at the New Zealand WI Federation Annual Meeting. Her toilet bag was amazing, so much detail and care went into it. The table runner was simply awesome she is very skilled and clever with her choice of materials. Please send huge CONGRATULATIONS to her from all the Baslow Darlings! . |
I have put the photos you sent on our NZ web page, you can see it by clicking:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/new-zealand-link-wi.html
I hope the community lunch went well for you. I am sure it would have with all the planning you 'girls' put into it. The menu choices were excellent and I would have had a job to choose if I was lucky enough to attend!
Jane has already submitted her monthly report to the local press, I have attached the document here if you wish to share it with your friends at WI. We are lucky enough to have it on Jane's page of our website:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
Our meeting yesterday was a great success. The speaker Alan Salt, 'From Creamery to Cracker', was very knowledgeable on his subject, cheese, entertaining too! The problem was lack of time. He was allocated 45 minutes for the talk and then another 15 for the cheese tasting. Judith, our President had a struggle to get us through the agenda and only had to cut a couple of items which will be carried over to the July meeting. The cheeses we tasted were from Hartington, about 15 miles from Baslow. All three were delicious and in such generous portions, I struggled to eat my dinner when we sat down to it at 6.30pm!
At WI we have lots planned for the summer, including walks, lunches and an outing to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Jane is judging a Victoria Sponge Cake competition at Baslow Sports Fest on 2 July. She did her best yesterday to encourage Baslow members to 'have a go'. I hope she will get lots of cakes to judge, and taste!
At our Annual Meeting in May, we welcomed a new team member, Sue, and lost one, Lorna she stepped down after many years in various roles at Baslow WI, including President. A sad loss. Now we have a team of 9 which is enough for our WI as we have lots of 'Team Helpers' who do amazing work helping us run the WI. We think our membership will remain around 80. Membership subscriptions are £46 for the year and were due in April.
I love reading your emails and hearing the news from Hukanui-Hamua and of course your family.
My granddaughter is 7 years old now and living life to the full! She loves her school and enjoys lots of out of school activities including, dance, gym, music and swimming! We spend our holidays together, but they live in Cambridge, so we don't see them too often between.
Speaking of family, it will be Father's Day here on Sunday 18 June and many of us will be with our families celebrating the day.
With love to you and all at H-H,
Ann & The Darlings @BaslowWI 🌷
Joint Secretary Baslow WI:
Facebook: Baslow WI
Twitter: Darlings @BaslowWI
Website:www.baslow-wi.weebly.com
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/new-zealand-link-wi.html
I hope the community lunch went well for you. I am sure it would have with all the planning you 'girls' put into it. The menu choices were excellent and I would have had a job to choose if I was lucky enough to attend!
Jane has already submitted her monthly report to the local press, I have attached the document here if you wish to share it with your friends at WI. We are lucky enough to have it on Jane's page of our website:
https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
Our meeting yesterday was a great success. The speaker Alan Salt, 'From Creamery to Cracker', was very knowledgeable on his subject, cheese, entertaining too! The problem was lack of time. He was allocated 45 minutes for the talk and then another 15 for the cheese tasting. Judith, our President had a struggle to get us through the agenda and only had to cut a couple of items which will be carried over to the July meeting. The cheeses we tasted were from Hartington, about 15 miles from Baslow. All three were delicious and in such generous portions, I struggled to eat my dinner when we sat down to it at 6.30pm!
At WI we have lots planned for the summer, including walks, lunches and an outing to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham. Jane is judging a Victoria Sponge Cake competition at Baslow Sports Fest on 2 July. She did her best yesterday to encourage Baslow members to 'have a go'. I hope she will get lots of cakes to judge, and taste!
At our Annual Meeting in May, we welcomed a new team member, Sue, and lost one, Lorna she stepped down after many years in various roles at Baslow WI, including President. A sad loss. Now we have a team of 9 which is enough for our WI as we have lots of 'Team Helpers' who do amazing work helping us run the WI. We think our membership will remain around 80. Membership subscriptions are £46 for the year and were due in April.
I love reading your emails and hearing the news from Hukanui-Hamua and of course your family.
My granddaughter is 7 years old now and living life to the full! She loves her school and enjoys lots of out of school activities including, dance, gym, music and swimming! We spend our holidays together, but they live in Cambridge, so we don't see them too often between.
Speaking of family, it will be Father's Day here on Sunday 18 June and many of us will be with our families celebrating the day.
With love to you and all at H-H,
Ann & The Darlings @BaslowWI 🌷
Joint Secretary Baslow WI:
Facebook: Baslow WI
Twitter: Darlings @BaslowWI
Website:www.baslow-wi.weebly.com
From: Denise in NZ
Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2023 Subject: FW: Elaine's winning bag To: Julia in Baslow Good morning Julia. We had our meeting yesterday here and 8/12 were there. It was a good meeting and Elaine showed us her winning entries for the recent NZWI AGM. Her toilet bag was fantastic, with separate partitions inside - just like a bought one - but better! Elaine said that the winning entries for the classes were on a separate table and the overall prize for most outstanding entry " Eva Rennie Trophy' was not displayed. They were talking about it and one other entry from Tararua Federation was thought to have been the winner - a Jacobean embroidery of a family tree. Anyway, they announced the competition winners and presented cups, then announced Eva Rennie - ELAINE DOUGHERTY. She was very surprised and cried! Elaine worked extremely hard getting it all together with plastic inserts and then mesh inserts. Then her table runner was just beautiful too. Table runner was 49/50 and the toilet bag was 90/100. Entries in most sections were down on previous years. However, the AGM went well with a remit being passed that individuals in small institutes that don't have a Federation can pay directly to head office. We will see how that goes. A shambles maybe! The sun is streaming in this morning, after most days of light drizzle to just make things harder. Some bookwork on the schedule for me today. We have a community lunch in Eketahuna tomorrow, held at my church hall and we provide all the food, asking for a $10 donation for the meal. The proceeds this time are going to the Eketahuna Museum. I make a pumpkin and kumera dish which is very yummy and always asked for! We are having hot ham and a lamb roast too. The elderly and people who live alone don't really have roasts, so it is a treat. Apple pie to follow too! So, all for me and love to all the darlings from the H-H darlings Denise x x |
May 2023
We are trying a change to the layout on this page instead of having to download the documents to read them our editor will put them directly on the web page. Julia often refers to Jane's reports, these can be find on our Roving Reporter's own page of this website. Feedback would be good from our members and followers. Thank you. |
From: Denise in NZ
Date: Thu, May 11, 2023 at 10:53 PM Subject: RE: Baslow May 2023 To: Julia Warne in Baslow Good morning Julia, The sun is streaming in today, after a couple of cold days. LOTS of snow down Queenstown way and also in the central North Island and any skifield really! Have two fires going to keep the house warm. We have Laura’s boys here today – well Ollie goes next door to play with Hud, but Jonty is here most of the time. Laura has gone to work in Palmerston North. As for WI, there are a few city institutes, but still mainly country women and the numbers are dwindling as their ages increase. A lot can’t drive, can’t use computers so at present they have to fold their institutes and federations. However, there is a remit at this year’s AGM in a couple of weeks about just being members and not having to belong to a federation. Paying subs to National and so being able to have institute in whatever form they like. Still being a part of Federation. Also another remit to allow office holders to continue on and not step down after 4 years. H-H has been doing this for about 15 years now! It works well, we don’t stick to the nitty gritty of the rules, but if we didn’t, then we too would fold I think and then the Federation would go as well. It would be a different story if we were a large institute, but small works just fine! |
There are only 2 of us who actually still live in Hukanui or Hamua! We have 3 down Masterton way, 2 in Eketahuna (10kms), 4 in Pahiatua. All the girls have lived in the H-H district at one time or another and have moved away, but choose to belong to keep in touch.
Fantastic amount for Edale MR. This was your charity for the year I think. Do you continue with them for the coming year?
Right. Washing to be done.
How precious for Jane and her sisters to have a get together. I think as women, we are so very lucky to have female relatives and friends in every walk of life. Nearby and far away!
Love to you dear Julia,
Denise x x x
From: Julia in Baslow
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2023 4:41 AM
To: Denise in NZ
Subject: Baslow May 2023
Dear Denise and all you Hakanui-Hamua Darlings,
Lovely to hear your latest news. Worrying to hear about the low levels of WI membership in NZ. Vikki confirmed yesterday at the AGM that Baslow WI membership is currently 72, so we have lost a few and also gained some recently. Some of our members come from surrounding urban areas. Nationally there are a number of town/city WIs with significant membership, many with young members. Are most of your WIs rurally based? Subscriptions are a conundrum. Because of the proportional share out of the subs, we pay more to the two Federations, National and Derbyshire, than we retain. However due to our healthy membership, we can survive and afford to pay for speakers. Much more difficult for WIs with low numbers.
Attached you will find Jane's monthly report. She wasn't actually at the meeting as her two sisters had arranged a special get together for the three of them. I have just added in the amount donated to Edale Mountain Rescue. Judith Barton was re-elected as President for the coming year. She is doing a good job.
Weather is gradually warming up here, but we still keep having heavy showers. The countryside is looking green and beautiful.
Lots of love to you all from
Julia and all the Baslow WI Darlings xx
Fantastic amount for Edale MR. This was your charity for the year I think. Do you continue with them for the coming year?
Right. Washing to be done.
How precious for Jane and her sisters to have a get together. I think as women, we are so very lucky to have female relatives and friends in every walk of life. Nearby and far away!
Love to you dear Julia,
Denise x x x
From: Julia in Baslow
Sent: Friday, May 12, 2023 4:41 AM
To: Denise in NZ
Subject: Baslow May 2023
Dear Denise and all you Hakanui-Hamua Darlings,
Lovely to hear your latest news. Worrying to hear about the low levels of WI membership in NZ. Vikki confirmed yesterday at the AGM that Baslow WI membership is currently 72, so we have lost a few and also gained some recently. Some of our members come from surrounding urban areas. Nationally there are a number of town/city WIs with significant membership, many with young members. Are most of your WIs rurally based? Subscriptions are a conundrum. Because of the proportional share out of the subs, we pay more to the two Federations, National and Derbyshire, than we retain. However due to our healthy membership, we can survive and afford to pay for speakers. Much more difficult for WIs with low numbers.
Attached you will find Jane's monthly report. She wasn't actually at the meeting as her two sisters had arranged a special get together for the three of them. I have just added in the amount donated to Edale Mountain Rescue. Judith Barton was re-elected as President for the coming year. She is doing a good job.
Weather is gradually warming up here, but we still keep having heavy showers. The countryside is looking green and beautiful.
Lots of love to you all from
Julia and all the Baslow WI Darlings xx
From: Denise in NZ
Date: Wed, May 3, 2023 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Institute for May
To: Julia in Baslow
Good morning dear Julia and the Baslow Darlings,
We had our May meeting today at Gladys’ home, just out of Eketahuna. Very spoiled with pikelets, a loaf and Louise Cake for morning tea! Very yummy.
We had pretty china plates and mugs – almost Coronation style. Wondered if Baslow is having a village party to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Camilla?
It is very late here for us, with commentary starting at 7pm until 1.30am. I just might have to record it!
Elaine is going down to Timaru in the South Island ( hiring a rental car from Christchurch with others from Tararua Federation) to go to the National Federation AGM. This is at the end of May.
There are a raft of remits to be discussed. Membership for WI in NZ is at an all-time low of about 2000. 7 Federations closed in the past year with members not willing to stand on their federations.
A few institutes are trialling not having a federation, but paying fees etc direct to National Fed. Will see how this goes.
On the other hand, we salute Baslow with near to 90 members now. How fantastic is that! We didn’t realise that you paid for your speakers – no wonder they are so varied and interesting.
NZ is once again being besieged by rain in the northern part of the North Island and northern part of the South Island, just hope it doesn’t come here in a hurry!
Grand Designs featured a home in Derbyshire last Sunday. Built near Darby in the Dales. Looked amazing and was good to see the local scenery. I thought it may have been close to Baslow, but Julia tells me that it is about 30 miles away.
Our Pat was interested as her family is about 20 mins from Baslow – can’t remember the place though!
So, that is about all, nothing much to report to you all.
Love to you all,
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x x
Date: Wed, May 3, 2023 at 1:34 AM
Subject: Institute for May
To: Julia in Baslow
Good morning dear Julia and the Baslow Darlings,
We had our May meeting today at Gladys’ home, just out of Eketahuna. Very spoiled with pikelets, a loaf and Louise Cake for morning tea! Very yummy.
We had pretty china plates and mugs – almost Coronation style. Wondered if Baslow is having a village party to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles and Camilla?
It is very late here for us, with commentary starting at 7pm until 1.30am. I just might have to record it!
Elaine is going down to Timaru in the South Island ( hiring a rental car from Christchurch with others from Tararua Federation) to go to the National Federation AGM. This is at the end of May.
There are a raft of remits to be discussed. Membership for WI in NZ is at an all-time low of about 2000. 7 Federations closed in the past year with members not willing to stand on their federations.
A few institutes are trialling not having a federation, but paying fees etc direct to National Fed. Will see how this goes.
On the other hand, we salute Baslow with near to 90 members now. How fantastic is that! We didn’t realise that you paid for your speakers – no wonder they are so varied and interesting.
NZ is once again being besieged by rain in the northern part of the North Island and northern part of the South Island, just hope it doesn’t come here in a hurry!
Grand Designs featured a home in Derbyshire last Sunday. Built near Darby in the Dales. Looked amazing and was good to see the local scenery. I thought it may have been close to Baslow, but Julia tells me that it is about 30 miles away.
Our Pat was interested as her family is about 20 mins from Baslow – can’t remember the place though!
So, that is about all, nothing much to report to you all.
Love to you all,
Denise and the Hukanui-Hamua Darlings x x x
April 2023
It's all happening with our friends downunder at Hukanui Hamua WI. Plans for Anzak Day 2023 are well underway and sad news too, their meeting hall has been broken into, items stolen and damaged. We are so sorry to read this.
Read the news from Denise and replies from both Julia and Ann in Baslow this month by clicking on the link below to download the document.
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Images - 123Rf & Redlands |
March 2023
We were thrilled to receive the news that our dear friend Denise, a member of our Link WI in New Zealand has received an award from the Anglican Church, The Bishop's Medal of Service. This was presented to her at the 150th anniversary service of St Cuthbert's Church where she has worshipped since moving to the area from Australia in 1991. Both Julia and Ann from Baslow WI have contacted her to congratulate her. See Denise's email to Julia, click to download below:
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So much has happened since our last look at the correspondence between Denise and Julia. Cyclones, earthquakes, snow storms and of course brilliant WI get-togethers! Read all the news including about Jane's sister's award from The King at Windsor Castle! Visit the News/Photos page of this website for full details.
(Scroll down to 14 February.)
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February 2023
See the wonderfully newsy email from Denise to Julia, received 4 February.
We love sharing WI and other news with our friends in New Zealand.
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Christmas 2022
These beautiful place settings were made for us this Christmas by Elaine, a member of Hukanui-Hamua WI, they also sent a NZ teatowel which will go into the January raffle for one Baslow WI member to win.
This bag was made for our one of our friends in NZ by Christine, we also sent a DFWI caldendar for 2023.
December 2022
What a lovely read this email is. Hukanui-Hamua WI is so different from ours in so many ways, not just size. Love the fact that they made cards together and Pat made Bakewell Tarts for them. Simply perfect!
Click to see the latest from Denise and friends down under!
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November 2022
Those lovely Darlings in Hukanui-Hamua WI are just about moving into summer mode! Their spring flowers are coming to an end and meetings are all being held outside. 😎
Read the latest news from Denise:
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October 2022
The October meeting of Hukanui-Hamua WI was held at Cafe Esplanade, Palmerston North. Click on the link to read all the news...
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Images from Cafe Esplanade on Facebook
September 2022
Download the file to read condolences from Denise regarding the death of Queen Elizabeth on 8 September 2022. This has been a sad time for us all here in the UK and it was lovely to receive this email knowing friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI have been watching and feeling the pain of our nation.
Read the local and WI news shared between Julia and Denise...
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July 2022
Click below to download and read the latest emails exchanged between Julia and Denise
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June 2022
See the latest email from Denise in New Zealand to Julia here in Baslow.
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Image taken from How to Draw
May 2022
Click to read the latest news from Denise and her friends in New Zealand where autumn is moving in fast and the wonderful Pin Oak trees (Quercus palustres) are displaying fabulous colour.
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Images - gardeningknowhow.com & NaturalistNZ
March 2022
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February 2022
Download the file below to read the latest news swapped between Julia in Baslow WI and Denise in Hukanui-Hamua WI this month. The Darlings in Baslow enjoyed Ruth Downing with her talk 'A day in the life of a photographer' at their monthly meeting.
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January 2022
Julia has just received the first email of the new year from Denise in New Zealand. Down under they are enjoying summer, camping, kayaking, growing and photographing sunflowers, sheep shearing as well as the usual catering for family and friends. Want to read the email? It's easy just click and download the file below.
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🌻🐝 Abbe Hoare has grown a big sunflower field on her farm. It is about half a hectare, or 47,000 seeds. Click on the link to go the the Facebook page report: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300502542/trafficstopping-sunflower-field-in-tararua-a-sight-to-behold
December 2021
In the latest email from Denise in Hukanui-Hamua WI, New Zealand you will read about the flower posies they made at their December meeting to cheer strangers in the town near where they live. They have received the gifts sent from Baslow WI and shared them. Download to see the full email.
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November 2021
As you will see our friends downunder are keeping busy with their meetings and craft work and they are planning to follow our lead and hold a sunflower growing competition using Russian Giant sunflower seeds! We will look forward to seeing and hearing their results. 🌻
Image - Russian Giant Sunflowers from Thompson & Morgan
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October 2021
Here is the latest news between Baslow and Hukanui-Hamua WIs.
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September 2021
Time for Denise and Julia's monthly catch-up!
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August 2021
Denise reports on the August meeting of our friends in
Hukanui-Hamua WI and replies regarding 'Roving Reporter' Jane's report on the Welcome Back Vintage Tea held in Baslow Village Hall on 11 August. It could well be sent on to Home & Country Magazine, ie the New Zealand WI membership magazine!
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July 2021 - More news sharing...
Denise in NZ and Julia in Baslow catch up after Baslow WI's monthly meeting via Zoom. Download file to read their email chats. Weather down under, serious rainfall and a heatwave here in UK. 😎☔️
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July 2021 - Sad news
We heard from Denise the very sad news that Margaret, a member of Hukanui-Hamua WI since 1969 died this month. Julia has sent a message of sympathy to Denise and her friends at WI. 🌸
See the latest emails between Denise and Julia by downloading the file below...
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June 2021 - Pukaha National Wildlife Centre
Our friends from Hukanui-Hamua WI in New Zealand chose this awesome place to hold their June meeting. As always they are planning entries in National Competitions, they are such an active small WI. Read the news in Denise's email dated 4 June and Julia's reply on 11 June following Baslow WI's June meeting via Zoom when Frances Dalrymple-Smith showed photos taken during lockdown of wildlife in Chatsworth Park.
To see Jane's report to the local press visit her page on this website: https://baslow-wi.weebly.com/roving-reporter.html
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May 2021 - A wonderful package came via the postman!
Denise has sent this wonderful pack of information about Anzac celebrations in NZ to help with our report in the Elizabeth Bell Challenge. Aren't the stamps fabulous too? Thanks Denise for all the work you put in collecting and sending this to us at Baslow WI.
May 2021 - Fabulous fruit
Here is the latest email from Denise received 11 May 2021,
I forgot all about Feijoas which are dropping from the trees now. Another name is the South American Guava, I think! They are a delicious fruit and I freeze them to have as a crumble during the year.
Very common in NZ now - can't give them away! Denise
I forgot all about Feijoas which are dropping from the trees now. Another name is the South American Guava, I think! They are a delicious fruit and I freeze them to have as a crumble during the year.
Very common in NZ now - can't give them away! Denise
Kiwi fruit growing in a garden of one of our Kiwi friends! Well done to Gladys what an awesome crop she has there!
I am picking figs at present. Eating them raw and drying them plus giving them away! Still have jam I made last year! Denise
April 2021 - Remembrance
This plaque was to commemorate the planting of the two oak trees by the local chief and a young child in the district. We live on Bourkes Road! The oak trees are in front of the Memorial Gates. Denise
On 25 April it is ANZAC day for our friends in New Zealand. We thought it would be good to share some recipes for the famous biscuits! Download the 'English' version from the Tried & Tested page of this website.
To see the most recent correspondence between our two WIs represented by Denise and Julia, click on the link below...
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Early today, 25 April 2021, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended a dawn service to commemorate Anzac Day at Wellington Arch in London, on behalf of The Royal Family. Afterwards they attended the Anzac Day Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.
Image & report - Daily Telegraph:
Royal purple: The Princess Royal visited the AustralianWar Memorial in London to mark Anzac Day. The Duke of Cambridge also paid tribute, sending messages and gifts of Anzac biscuits to the Australian and New Zealand high commissions. |
March 2021
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February 2021
More newsy emails from our friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI, NZ. They are enjoying outside meetings and garden visits keeping in the shade, whilst we are rushing as much as we can on the snow and ice to get back inside by the fire! Download the file to read all the news!
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January 2021
It's wonderful to read family and WI news each month from our Link WI in New Zealand. Of course they are enjoying garden and beach time with friends and family whilst we are in a difficult period of the coronavirus lockdown and very cold wet winter weather. Roll on spring for us and autumn for our pals down under! 😎 🍁
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December 2020
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October 2020
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October used to be our Health Month and we invited health professionals and other institutes to join us. However, it eventually had its day, so for the past few years we have collected goods for the Hospice instead. I think in some way we all know someone who has been cared for by the hospice. Places of caring, love and support that make that last journey a gentle farewell.
The lady on the left was from the Hospice Office with Denise, Gwen, Coral, Pat, Elaine, Margaret, Barbara, Christine, Gladys & Lesley.
We had a lovely day with lunch at the Cafe at the Esplanade Gardens in Palmerston North. Was a little breezy, so we didn't do our usual garden walk. A few had jobs to do and family to meet and take to the movies! Denise
The lady on the left was from the Hospice Office with Denise, Gwen, Coral, Pat, Elaine, Margaret, Barbara, Christine, Gladys & Lesley.
We had a lovely day with lunch at the Cafe at the Esplanade Gardens in Palmerston North. Was a little breezy, so we didn't do our usual garden walk. A few had jobs to do and family to meet and take to the movies! Denise
September 2020
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August 2020
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Sadly after this email was received lockdown was again reported to be in place for our friends in Hukanui-Hamua WI, Tararua Federation, New Zealand. We look forward to hearing better news from Denise shortly. Hopefully lockdown wont last too long this time.
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July 2020
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Denise and Julia have continued corresponding all through the lockdown in New Zealand and here in the UK. Take a look at the latest emails where they talk about restaurants and take aways opening again, the lack of WI meetings and learning how to use Zoom and the worry about second spikes of coronavirus. It's great to see how their friendship has built during the years they have been emailing each other swapping WI and family news. Keep up the good work Denise and Julia.
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June 2020
Our friends down-under are celebrating being back together at WI after a strict but successful lockdown. Read the news from
Denise about her gardening project, Hukanui-Hamua WI's meeting when they made book marks from homemade kits and guess what, snow is on the way! ⛄️⛷ See also Julia's reply updating Denise with the news from Baslow, our continuing lockdown and adventures with online learning and the use of Zoom in #MyVirtualWI We certainly need to get out more! Our time will come let's hope it will still be summer. 🌞⛱ |
May 2020
The Queen celebrates her birthdays and our friends in NZ are planning getting back to their WI meetings. Let's hope we will be able to follow in their footsteps later this year.
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May 2020 - Creative Writing Competition
Darling Jane, Baslow WI's Roving Reporter set a Creative Writing Challenge. Find out about it and see the entries on our News/Photos page of this website, under the title 6 May 2020. Denise from Hukanui-Hamua WI entered and was placed 2nd. Well done Denise thanks for joining in. ⭐️
23 March 2020 - UK in lockdown due to coronavirus
February 2020 - Deborah visits our Kiwi friends
Darling Deborah was given a very warm welcome recently when she visited the members of Hukanui-Hamua WI, our link WI, in New Zealand at the home of Pat and Keith. Denise is modelling the scarf made by a Baslow member at the scarf making workshop led by Judith and Jane in Baslow at the end of last year.
Photos D & N Bax
January 2020 - Happy new year to our friends in New Zealand
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December 2019
The text in this fabulous card reads:
'Baslow Darlings - Enjoy your Christmas with family & friends. Best wishes for 2020 - Yours in friendship Hukanui-Hamua WI Ladies'
'Baslow Darlings - Enjoy your Christmas with family & friends. Best wishes for 2020 - Yours in friendship Hukanui-Hamua WI Ladies'
November 2019
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October 2019
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September 2019
Barry Colenso chocolatier was the speaker at Baslow WI's September meeting. He made Prince William's chocolate wedding cake and told us in detail all that it entailed. A great speaker and wonderful tasters too!
Barry will be at the Annual Council Meeting at the beginning of October, another opportunity to purchase more of his delicious chocolate. |
August 2019
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Message a photo from Denise Gavin:
"This photo was taken at Pukaha National Bird Recovery Centre at Mt. Bruce. Only 15 mins south of here for our July meeting. From left: Sue, Pat, Barbara, Gwen, Christine, Lesley, Elaine, Denise, Colleen, Leonie and Val Lesley won the lucky draw for the Baslow WI Centenary Bag, proudly showing it in the front row!" |
July 2019
Message and photo from Denise Gavin: "Taken at Elaine's in June when we did a Christmas decoration day. From left: Pat, Christine, Lesley, Margaret Bird, Barbara, Margaret Simpson, Val and Sue. Elaine and I missed it!" |
June 2019
Elaine from Hukanui/Hamua WI models
her up-cycled outfit. Well done Elaine. |
May 2019
Photos below are before and after of the garments and accessories upcycled by Elaine for the competition mentioned in this month's email.
Thanks for sharing with us Elaine. |
April 2019
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March 2019 - News from New Zealand since shootings in Christchurch
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March 2019 - Deborah from Baslow WI visits friends at Hukanui-Hamua WI whilst on holiday in New Zealand visiting family and touring.
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February 2019
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January 2019
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December 2018
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November 2018
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October 2018
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August 2018
July 2018
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Here is the latest photo received from our friends in Hukanui/Hamua WI, New Zealand when they were out for a lunch-time meeting recently.
June 2018
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May 2018
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New Zealand winner at Badminton Horse Trials - 6 May 2018
Here in England we have enjoyed a wonderful weekend of equestrian sport at the Badminton Horse Trials. We send our congratulations to Jonelle Price from NZ riding the mare Classic Moet beating four Brits to the winning post and leaving the 'Great Sir Mark Todd' also riding for NZ in 6th place. Fantastic that NZ and GB had it all stitched up this year!
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April 2018
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March 2018
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Note from Julia Warne: Denise remembers that when she read the minutes at the Pahiatua Museum, the link initiative came from National. The institutes then indicated that they would like a link and were matched from then on. We have certainly ended up with a good link!
February 2018
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January 2018
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December 2017
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Spring is just coming for our Kiwi friends as we move properly into Autumn...
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With each set of emails copied onto a document for this page our editor finds a photo or clipart related to New Zealand. This one made her smile!
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13 August 2017 - 70th Anniversary of our Link with Hukanui/Hamua WI
We are proud and happy today to be celebrating our long friendship with Hukanui/Hamua WI in New Zealand. Long may it last. This month we have exchanged hand-made cards especially for the occasion. We'd love to hear from other WIs with overseas 'pen pals'!
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A visit: Go to our News/Photos page and scroll down to see photos taken on 17 July 2017 when Keith, the husband of one of our Hukanui/Hamua friends visited Baslow. It was a wonderful warm summer day in Derbyshire one to remember!
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nz_email_-_21.6.2017.pdf | |
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nz_email_-_11.5.2017.pdf | |
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nz_email_-_19.4.2017.pdf | |
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nz_email_-_13.3.2017.pdf | |
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nz_email_-_8.3.2017.pdf | |
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nz_link_-_21.11.16_.pdf | |
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nz_link_-_9.12.16.pdf | |
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nz_link_wi_emails_3.825.9___28.9.2016.pdf | |
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