Bollywood in Bedminster

Namaste, Malago WI


Last week's Bollywood dancing evening was HOT! We learned a lot, including our left from our right, and that we won't be forming a dance troupe any time soon, but everyone had a lot of ankle-jingling fun fuelled by exotic sweets and fragrant cordials. Thanks to fabulous teacher Prerna for her patience and enthusiasm.


July meeting
On Wednesday 28 July, we will welcome Nick Hand. Nick cycled the 5000 miles of Britain's coastline clockwise, meeting and filming artisan craftspeople including a lobster pot-maker, a daisy-grower, a kilt-maker, and many other artists.


Nick will talk about his travels and show us his beautiful photographs and interviews, showcasing his journey and the people he met on the way.


* Change of venue *
July's meeting will take place in the Hollywood-esque surroundings of the Aardman cinema in their new HQ on Gas Ferry Road, near the SS Great Britain. If you're driving, the SS Great Britain car park is the place to park. Timings are the same - 8-10pm.


Other news
Flickr ::
If you'd like to add your photographs of WI-related activities, such as crafts you're working on, baking, gardening or even the cake you're making for the meeting, please email them to jointhewi@gmail.com


Best of Bedminster ::
Our favourite fundraiser takes place on Saturday 25 September and we need volunteers to help out on the day, as well as bake cakes for us to sell. Let us know if you can help.


Avon Federation AGM ::
Do you want to be our volunteer to go along to our regional federation AGM? Taking place on Tuesday 28 September in sunny Weston-super-mare, the AGM is an opportunity to see the wider picture of local WI activities. Deadline to book a place is 16 August - email us if you'd like to volunteer.


Food hygiene course ::
We intend to provide an opportunity for all members to attend a food hygiene course, date and cost TBC - again, drop us an email to put your name down.


Sainsbury's
It's crunch time for North Street. Bristol City Council planning committee meets on 21 July so please submit your comments and objections NOW. Visit the BASICS website for a list of compelling reasons why The Biggest Supermarket in the South West will spell the end of our community shops, including evidence from the independent retail strategy commissioned by the Council itself. And the Council's intention to GIVE land worth over £3.34 million to this development, at a time when they are calling for more than £50 million in cuts over the next 3 years.


Please do it now. Lecture over, as you were.


Don't forget the change of venue for July's meeting!


Pull the other one, it's got bells on
MWI x

Malago's green and pleasant land

Well, hellooooo Malagoooo,

Last month's meeting was another addition to the Malago memory urn as we hosted our first ever Brunel Group event, welcoming Knowle, Whitchurch eve and afternoon, Greenbank and Stockwood brances to our tea and chocolate-tasting soiree. It was a roaring success - Kate from Lahloo was our star expert and we learnt and tasted like perfect students - green teas, rose teas, whites and oolong, soaked up with chocolates, basil and other. Even better - despite being new to the Penny Vote we swept the board with the most Unusual Teapot competition and that was without Odette's open legged man coming in the top three!

A big clarinet toot out to Heather Leppard who led our Jerusalem rendition - locals thought the pied piper had come to Bedminster. We certainly scored as hostesses with the most so thanks to everyone who joined the fun. This bodes so well for the fun we have lined up over the next few months...

And onto May's meeting. We can barely contain our excitement at the prospect of Jane Brocket and all her wonderfulness on Wednesday 26 May. Don't forget - we will have (very limited) tickets for sale for this meeting, so spread the word. If you're interested in reserving a ticket in advance at £3.50, email jointhewi@gmail.com, otherwise tickets are £4 on the night. And if you'd like to buy Jane's latest book, The Gentle Art of Quilt-Making, she will be signing copies - bring cash.

At the March meeting, we discussed the new Sainsbury's planning application for the Ashton Gate stadium site, and it was agreed that Malago WI would object to this application. Although we've objected as a group, we need you to object individually as well. Have a read of the basics blog, or (if you're already convinced) go straight to their 'Take action now' site for information on how to object, links to the Council planning website, and a few more good reasons why this development would not be good for our community. Please do this soon.

Coming up: on Friday 18 June, we're very pleased to stage the second Malago WI swish, in which you can bring your once-loved clothes and accessories, and swap them for something new to you. Not a meeting, this event is designed not only for fashion fun and frolics but also as a fundraising event. Taking place from 8pm at Pilates Moves, the evening will follow the format of our last swish back in August, but with bells on. This time, we will also have make-up demonstrations, food and a cheeky tipple, and the option to buy as many tokens as you want, should you spot more must-have items than you brought. And the event is open to everyone - we have 100 tickets to sell, so please help us spread the word. Tickets cost £6, so if you'd like to come bring some cash along to May's meeting (the last before the swish). Invite your friends!

June's meeting takes place on Wednesday 30 June, and is our rescheduled Bollywood night (which was snowed off back in January). More details nearer the time... Let's hope things hot up before then - not exactly an Indian summer at the moment, is it?

Namaste,

Malago WI x

Tesco objection letters and a demonstration, 12 September

Don't forget to send your objection to Bristol City Council NOW:

Any comments you may have about the application must be submitted in writing, giving your name and address and quoting the application number 09/03208/P

1. Online:

http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KODA82DN08900
(blue ’submit comments’ bar at the top)

2. Email: development.management@bristol.gov.uk

3. Write to: City Development, Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY

Use your own words in your objection and state how it will affect you. You may also wish to include all or some of the following points:

• Already enough supermarket provision locally.
• Negative impact on smaller local shops and damage to regeneration that has already occurred.
• If ‘key’ shops (butchers, greengrocers, bakers) disappear from the high street the viability of the whole high street will be in danger.
• Significant increase in traffic and congestion in the surrounding communities. Air quality and road safety will get worse.
• Noise and light pollution from a 24-hour, 7-day store.
• Local high street is the centre of our community.
• The site is too far from local shops to bring any benefit to the area.
• Our local shops employ many people and reinvest profits locally.
• Wider environmental impact of superstore (encouraging car use, transporting goods, poor use of land)
• Better uses for the site e.g. Affordable housing, community facilities, sports facilities…
• You live close to the site but were not properly consulted (if appropriate)
• The planning decision should not be biased by the push for new stadium

Please, please do it now, and send anyone else who might also object a link to this post. This is our ONLY opportunity to object and we must do it now in huge numbers.

Demonstration

Members of Malago WI will be joining the demonstration on Saturday 12 September 2009. Berate are holding a public Juggernaut event on 12th September on North Street and Ashton Road. The walk will start at North Street Green at 10.30am and shall walk the length of North Street leading then to the entrance of BCFC on Ashton Road. Tesno banners will be available, or bring your own to join in and support (we will make a Malago WI one). We hope you can come and show your support for the campaign.

Malago WI